What is death?...

That is what we all wonder isn’t it?

For some, it’s the end… nothing happens…

For others Elysium awaits.

For me…. It’s when one life ended… and a nightmare began….

Twilight trotted amongst ponies wearing black, they all were wearing black, and she trotted up to where her friends were, they were all sobbing inconsolably.

And it made sense given who was in the grave…

Twilight stood at the edge of the open casket and looked down, and she saw the one who had perished too soon and let some tears fall as well.

She was looking, at herself…

“Why…. why couldn’t it have been me!?” Spike sobbed.

“It’s okay, she’s in Elysium now,” Fluttershy said through her tears.

“D-dang it Twilight! Why’d you have to go like that…?” Rainbow fought back tears.

“...” The others were too sad to say anything.

It happened just yesterday… she simply wasn’t careful enough…

“She managed to save Apple Bloom at least, those Timberwolves had her surrounded…” AJ said.

“There were too many… I should have been there…” Rainbow said.

“We all should have been… and now all we can do is live on in her memory,” Rarity said.

“Twiley…. It’s too soon… I swear, I’ll destroy any and all Timberwolves I see!” Shining Armor vowed.

“You don’t have to…” Twilight said, despite knowing he couldn’t hear a ghost like her.

“Farewell my beloved student…” Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were in tears as well.

Twilight wanted to console them but she couldn’t do anything but stay here and look on.

And so she looked up at the sky. A light was there, waiting. How long could she put it off before it vanished…? Should she just go before it does? It’d probably be best…

“Probably best I leave now… I… I can’t… Twilight said with tears in her eyes, before she spread her wings and took to the air, but not before pausing and seeing her friends.

“....Goodbye… I love you all,” Twilight said before she flew off, her tears joining the rainfall.

As she flew upwards towards the light she could feel its warmth… she could stay for a few days, process everything, but it would be too hard… too much… it’s best she leaves while she can…

And so she flew into the sky, ready to embrace an eternity with-... huh?

Twilight felt a pull… to the right of the light… what was-

“AAAAAGH!” Twilight yelped as some invisible force yanked her around the light and into the sky, she screamed as she felt an incredible force fling her to and fro until she settled above the atmosphere and she paused.

“AAAH! W-what the?” Twilight asked shaken.

“Albert! I told you not to yank her so hard!” A female voice scolded.

“Not my fault mortal souls are so light,” A male voice said.

“Can you two focus! She can hear us!” Another male voice scolded.

“Ok ok!” the other two conceded.

“H-hello?...” Twilight asked.

“Ahem, hello small horse,” a fourth warbled sounding voice said.

“...What’s happening?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe we should show ourselves?” The female voice asked.

“Sure,” Then four faces appeared in front of her, the size of moons! And… weird looking?

“AAAAAAAAH!” Twilight shouted.

“Calm down, calm down! We’re friendly!” The third one said.

“Wh-who are you all?” Twilight asked, looking at them they seemed almost alien.

One was a grey face with black eyes and a small mouth.

Another was pink and looked like a human face.

The third was…. She couldn’t describe it, a mesh of tentacles and eyes maybe?

And the fourth looked like a giant eye.

“Glad you asked, hello, we are the celestials,” The tentacle-faced one said.

“....Am I dreaming?” Twilight asked.

“No, I assure you this is not a vision created by the mind, we are the four almighty overseers of this universe,” The eye said while giving a slow blink.

“Your…. Gods?” Twilight asked looking like she was in shock.

“No…” The grey face said “Perhaps introductions and explanations are in order."

“I’m Melanie,” The Pink face said.

“I’m Vault,” The Grey face said.

“I’m SDKJFHBFDCUIHSADFUIHD, but you can just call me Timmy,” The tentacle-faced one said.

“And you already heard, I am Albert,” The Eye said

“... Such weird and normal sounding names…” Twilight said.

“I know,” Melanie said.

“As for what we are, we are the entities chosen by the all-powerful one to oversee this universe and all that inhabit it, Earthlings call him God or something,” Albert said.

“This universe?” Twilight said.

“One of countless, we’re the ones he chose to support this realm and prevent it from falling into ruin or stagnation, we each serve a purpose,” Melanie said.

“I represent Creation,” Vault said.

“I represent Compassion,” Melanie said.

“Destruction,” Timmy said.

“And knowledge,” Albert said.

“...I’m so confused… wasn’t I just heading into the light right now?” Twilight asked.

“Yeeeesss, buuuuut, we have a favor to ask of you,” Timmy said.

“A favor?” Twilight parroted.

“Yes… we’d like you to take our powers and positions,” Melanie said.

“...What?” Twilight asked.

“We’ve done this job for eons, since before God made the rock you all stood upon, we’re tired and want out,” Albert said with an eye roll.

“I know this is a tall order, but you’d be doing us a favor,” Vault said.

“...I don’t-”

“Get it, I know, we said much the same when we were offered the same, but we’re allowed to hand off our positions whenever we want, we’re simply seeking retirement and you seem like a worthy host of our powers,” Vault said.

“What will happen to you guys?” Twilight asked hesitantly.

“We’ll be reborn as mortals and live out our days until the light calls us,” Melanie said.

“What if I don’t want to?” Twilight asked.

“...Well, we can’t stop you from saying no. We’ll send you back down and into the light, and you’ll be on your way to the next life, but you're a forward thinker. You know you’ll be doing us a favor by taking this burden,” Timmy said.

“....I… need to think about this,” Twilight said.

“Take your time, we’re used to waiting eons,” Melanie said.

“...Hmm…” Twilight thought long and hard about this, they're offering her basically all the power she’ll ever want and need, but what about the next life? What happens afterward.

“We can answer that,” Vault said.

“Did you read my mind?” Twilight asked.

“Um, yeah, remember who you're talking too?” Timmy asked.

“...Point taken,” Twilight sighed.

“We’re each capable of governing various aspects of existence,” Albert said approaching Twilight.

“Yeah?” Twilight said.

“I grant beings the knowledge they’ll need, whether instinctual or mental, Melanie here grants the ability to feel between others, emotion, Vault, and Timmy are self-explanatory, they make and break the universe,” Albert said.

“And I’ll gain all this?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Albert responded.

“...What happens if I accept?” Twilight asked.

“Then you become master of the four powers of the universe, and we finally gain sweet retirement,” Albert said.

“...And what does this job entail?” Twilight asked.

“You’ll manage various forms of life, keep watch over the universe and both cause and prevent various cataclysms,” Albert said.

“Cause cataclysms? Why?” Twilight asked.

“A world needs balance, and change, and you're the only one who’ll make it happen, and if you ever find yourself needing friends, you can elect helpers, or keep the power to yourself, doesn’t matter,” Timmy said.

“...Will… I be able to see my friends again at least?” Twilight asked hopefully.

“...Yes and no,” Melanie said.

“Explain please,” Twilight asked.

“Direct conversation with mortals is difficult, through dreams is different though, and you can do various things, just be careful not to shirk your duties,” Melanie said.

“Why?” Twilight asked.

“Or else Val will come visit to give you a year long lecture, she’s something of a divine accountant, don’t ask, and most importantly do not exit the universe, you manage, or else you could be destroyed by the event horizon,” Vault said.

“...Gotcha… so… wow, I can’t believe this is happening, I… don’t know how to react,” Twilight said.

“With a yes or a no would be preferred,” Timmy said.

“.....” Twilight looked back at Equus, could she do it? She can still be with her friends in spirit… and in a way this isn’t permanent, this is an opportunity to become more than just herself.

“We understand that this will be a tough decision, we’re willing to wait,” Melanie said.

“.....I’ll do it,” Twilight said with a resolute look on her face.

“....That quickly? No eon of thinking?” Albert said with a raised brow.

“I can be with my friends in spirit, I’d say it’s a worthy trade-off, I went through one ascension, I can go through another,” Twilight said with a smile.

“...I-I don’t know what to say,” Melanie said.

“Thank you, tiny purple horse,” Vault said.

“How does this work?” Twilight asked.

“Leave that to us,” They said as they surrounded her and Twilight immediately felt nervous.

“W-will this hurt?” Twilight asked.

“...I won’t lie, it will, alot, but I hope that doesn’t change your decision,” Melanie said.

“G-gotcha, I’ll be able to handle it,” Twilight nervously said.

“Well! It’s been real friends,” Timmy said.

“Farewell,” Melanie said.

“I bid you all adieu,” Albert said.

“May our mortal lives be more exciting than this was,” Vault said before their eyes lit up and they fired beams that struck Twilight.

Twilight had braced herself for pain…. Not for this…

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH” Twilight screamed as it felt like every atom that made her body up was on fire.

Then when the beams faded the entities began to turn into giant multi-colored spheres that began orbiting Twilight who was still glowing intensely, then they paused and melted into multi-colored puddles and they formed up into a giant puddle and began covering Twilight, first her legs, than her body and as it approached her head she opened her eyes one last time as a mortal before her whole body was subsumed in the colorful liquid, which continued to cover her until it was all covering her body and formed into a giant sphere, then it glowed brightly and formed into a pony shape and when the light faded Twilight opened her eyes and looked down at herself.

She looked the same, but with glowing white markings covering her body, her mane flowing like a galaxy of stars, and her eyes multicolored.

“Whoa…” Twilight looked herself over before spotting four souls floating there in front of her, they then descended towards Equus and vanished.

“...Thank you, Vault, Melanie, Albert, and Timmy,” Twilight smiled.

Then she looked around and wondered outloud.

…What now?

She felt the power coursing through her, the power to build or destroy worlds, she could feel the compassion of every being in the universe and her knowledge, she’s always wanted unlimited knowledge, and now she has it, everything she could want to learn, it’s now in her head.

Now it was time, to put it into practice!

“Alright-” Twilight spoke in a booming voice and she covered her mouth before clearing her throat and speaking quieter.

“Now, let’s test my powers out before I get to work,” Twilight said.

Twilight floated through the cosmos, looking at countless planets, she could sense which ones had life, and which didn’t.

She was going to start a world.

And so she approached a large planet and her infinite knowledge told her what to do…

She spat into her hooves and guided the spit onto the planet.

“Alright, I’ll come back in a hundred years to see how it does,” Twilight said before flying away.

Twilight had found the edge of the universe, she prodded the edge carefully, thankfully she knew now it was quite durable so she didn’t have to worry about going into the event horizon.

“I wonder what goes beyond here?” Twilight asked.

Twilight’s heart was heavy as she approached a dying planet, she knew what she had to do, even though there were traces of life on this planet.

She raised a hoof and tried to swing at the planet but she stopped.

“I-I….can’t… there’s life here,” Twilight stood back “Maybe nopony will notice?” Twilight said before flying away.

Twilight glided among the stars and dragged her hoof through a sea of stars, it was like cold water, she giggled as she swam in it.

"So much to do! I can do anything!... Well, except visit my friends, but maybe I can see them again after I master my powers," Twilight wondered out loud as she dove out and slid on a slide of stars.

Afterwards she used her powers to form a bed made of asteroids and she laid on them.

"I think I'm gonna like it here..." Twilight sighed.

A year later Twilight having gained a better view on her abilities and done her fair share of exploring the cosmos approached her home, Equus, home sweet home.

“Maybe I can visit my friends, it’s been so long,” Twilight said, after all she’s done much work throughout the cosmos, she’s entitled to a break… right?

And so Twilight began to shrink down until she was the size of a normal pony and she flew forward to see her friends…. Only to bump into a barrier.

“Huh?” Twilight said… deep down she knew she couldn’t go back but she deluded herself into thinking she could…

“No…” Twilight said as she leaned back against the barrier, what was she going to do now?... she was honestly tired of space right now, she’d like to feel the grass on her hooves once more…

“Even with my knowledge, I know there are no loopholes I can… wait…” Twilight remembered what she was told a year ago, dreams are the exception!

And so she tapped into the dream realm and searched around, she looked around at the many dreams.

But there was one mare she had her eyes out for…

“Twilight?” Twilight turned around and saw a bewildered Luna.

“Hello Luna,” Twilight said politely.

“...What trickery is this?!” Luna lit her horn.

“No trickery here, it’s me,” Twilight said.

“NO! Twilight died a year ago! I refuse to believe it!” Luna said.

Twilight simply stamped her hoof and Luna’s magic fizzled out.

“Huh?! How did-”

“I temporarily disabled your magic, now listen, I can prove it,” Twilight said.

“Very well,” Luna said guardedly.

“The last dream I had before I died was of me and my friends riding giant bunnies,” Twilight said simply.

“....True…. How did Twilight die?” Luna demanded.

“Timberwolves, one got me by the throat,” Twilight responded easily.

“....What about-”

“Sunshine sunshine, Ladybugs awake, put your hooves together and give a little shake,” Twilight responded immediately.

“How?” Luna asked.

“I know everything, as was the gift given to me by the Celestials,” Twilight said.

“The-”

“All powerful beings, too much explanation, listen, I want to see my friends, I’ve missed them,” Twilight said.

“....Very well, you’ve proven yourself, but I have my eye on you,” Luna said.

“Thank you,” Twilight said.

Fluttershy woke up groggily, she used to be more energetic in the morning but losing Twilight has still left her without the enthusiasm… as she stretched and went downstairs to get breakfast she was surprised to see the others there.

“Girls?” Fluttershy said confusedly as she saw them all there with her.

“Shy? How did we get here?” Rainbow asked.

“Ah don’t-”

“Maybe we’re having some kind of group dream!” Pinkie said interrupting AJ.

“I doubt it,” Rarity said.

“Yeah, that can’t be it,” Fluttershy said.

“Actually it is,” A familiar voice said and they turned to see Twilight.

“Twilight?!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“...Soooo I'm having that dream again?...” Rainbow sighed.

“No Rainbow, I’m really here!” Twilight said looking like she was tearing up from having not seen them in so long.

“Ah doubt it, yer dead remember?” AJ said sadly.

“I can prove it to you all,” Twilight said.

“Ok?” Pinkie said. She found it weird that her Pinkie sense could usually sense things, but for some reason, she couldn’t sense her.

“Could something that’s simply part of a dream do this?” Twilight said before she suddenly manipulated the dream and turned it into a grassy field.

“Huh?” They all looked around.

“Or this?” Twilight made party hats appear on them.

“Whoa!” Pinkie liked it.

“You can manipulate dreams just like Luna?... that means your-” Rainbow said.

“Yes, I’m-”

“A faker! WHO ARE YOU!?” Rainbow demanded.

“What? No! I am Twilight!” Twilight said.

“Yeah right! She died last year! Nice try!” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, we ain’t gonna fall for it!” AJ said and the others looked ready to fight.

“She’s telling the truth,” They heard another voice say and they turned to see Luna standing there with a smile.

“Luna? Y-your saying-” Rainbow said.

“I took the time to check her source and nopony on Equus is influencing this image, what does that say?” Luna asked.

“N-no way-” AJ said.

“I would know, trust me,” Luna said.

“Girls… it really is me,” Twilight pleaded.

“...Twilight?” Fluttershy carefully approached and reached forward Twilight did the same and when they touched Twilight gave her a vision of the times they spent, her and Shy.

When it was over Fluttershy was smiling and she hugged Twilight tightly.

“Twilight! It really is you!” Fluttershy cried.

“Yes, it is,” Twilight said with a smile.

“Twi?...” Rainbow approached carefully with the others.

“Hey guys,” Twilight said with a smile.

“It really is you isn’t it?” Rarity asked with hope in her eyes.

“It is,” Twilight said and they all ran over and hugged her,

“I MISSED YOU!” Pinkie cried.

“Twilight!” Rarity sobbed as she held her.

“Ah can’t believe mah eyes!” AJ cried.

After some tears were shed they all backed off and Twilight sat with them.

“Wait, where’s Spike? He’s nowhere in Ponyville, should I search farther for him?” Twilight asked, she’s all knowing but some things need to be searched for.

The others looked at eachother worriedly and then AJ approached.

“He… ran away, losin you was too much for him… we tried but we couldn’t find him,” AJ said.

“No…” Twilight said looking horrified.

“You can connect with him right?” Rainbow asked.

“No, he’s not asleep right now,” Twilight sadly said.

The others looked at eachother and decided to change the subject.

“How are you here?” Rainbow asked.

“I… it’s a long complicated story, let me start from the beginning,” Twilight said.

And so Twilight wove a long tale of how she died, met the Celestials, and inherited their power, and now she is omnipotent, and can only visit them in their dreams.

“Wow… that’s… alot to take in,” Rainbow said.

“Yeah,” Rarity said.

“Where to start?” AJ said.

“What matters is that I’m back, not in the flesh, but in your dreams,” Twilight said.

“Ah’m glad to have ya back Twilight, ah really am,” AJ said.

“Agreed,” Rainbow said.

“Me three!” Pinkie said.

“So, tell me what-” Suddenly the dream realm began vanishing.

“Seems their waking up,” Luna said.

“No!” Rainbow said.

“I’ll be here tomorrow! Pinkie Promise!” Twilight said before everything vanished.

Once more Twilight was out in space but she smiled.

“I can be with my friends again… thank goodness,” Twilight smiled up at the stars.

“Well! Time to get to work!” Twilight said flying off.

Little does she know… the dangers awaiting her new position… and the nightmares to come…

Author's Note

Hello friends! It's been a while, I'll work on this while I get Harmony Spark and its sequel up to date.

Till then enjoy.