Appearing from a veil of shadows, the stranger found himself standing at the gate of Sweet Apple Acres. Stepping over the front gate, the figure began to make his way to the farmhouse residing over the farmland.

As he drew close, a series of sharp barks caught his attention. Turning his gaze from the house, the stranger found his focus on a dog. Said dog repeated the same little song and dance every time he appeared on the farm: See the hooded figure, run up and bark at him, get told off by a member of this farms family before leaving him alone.

Kneeling down before the dog, the figure felt a low chuckle escape his chest as he reached out and put a hand on the dogs head. Even though he was unable to actually touch the dog, it was clear she could sense the intention as the barking switched to a recognized "arf" as she tilted her head into the hand.

"I should see if I can bring my dog up here to see you, little one. I'm sure both of you could use a canine friend." The figure spoke before standing up and continuing his way to the farmhouse, walking up onto its porch as the dog followed close behind. Coming to a stop in front of a rocking chair, the stranger looked down on the older mare before him with a smile, eager to see what the she had in store for him today.

Said mare met his gaze, and with a slight startle at the appearance of the figure the mare let out an annoyed snort.

"Consarn it, boy! What have I told you about sneaking up on me like that?"

Another chuckle leaves the figure as he moves to the right side of the mare, leaning against the farmhouse wall as he kept his focus on the earth pony before him.

"I didn't sneak up on anyone, you old hag. Your able to see the whole farm from this porch, you shouldn't be old enough to not see me coming."

Grumbling to herself, the old mare let his comment slide as she turned her gaze back out to the farm.

"Ah was distracted, ya boney varmint." Granny Smith retorted, though her voice held no real bite to it. The dog from before came up, taking her post beside the mare as a green hoof made its way to the dogs head. "Today would've been my son's birthday had he still been with us."

"Bright Mac, you mean? He was quite the stallion." The figure stated, remembering the fateful day he had to guide both the stallion and his wife to the other side. It had been nothing short of disastrous for the family left behind, especially the mother of the poor colt, who had to raise their children alone ever since. It had also been around that time that Granny Smith had began being able to see him, and while this trait was usually reserved for beings on a higher plane of existance the figure didn't mind having someone else to talk to.

Letting out a small "mmm-hmm", Granny Smith leaned back into her rocking chair as her gaze returned to the hooded one before her. For a while she did not speak, simply staring at the hood over the figures face before at last deciding to break the silence.

"Tell me...have you come for his children? Ah know darn well it's not mah time just yet, but after losing Bright Mac ah know better than to assume each day with those young'ns is guaranteed..." Granny smith asked, breaking the silence as her body seemed to tense up. Despite it being years ago, the scars still ran deep, and the old mare wasn't ready to lose another just yet, not when she knew her grandchildren still had so much to live for.

Upon hearing her question, the stranger stepped off the wall and knelt before the old mare. Raising up a skinless hand, the figure took off his hood, revealing the skull beneath as his hollow sockets bore into her eyes.

"No, Death does not come for them on this day. I am only here to check in on you, Smith. Your time of departure is much closer than any of theirs, and even that day wont arrive for a while."

Breathing out a sigh of relief, the mare relaxed back into her chair and pulled her gaze away from the skull beside her. Even with all she had seen and been through, one could only stare death in the eyes for so long before having to avert their gaze.

"Thank ya, sonny. There are times mah fears get to me sometimes, and I wonder if the young'ns will be next to go before me."

Returning to his feet, Death flipped his hood back over his head, following the old mares gaze to the two apple siblings out in the fields. The older, much bulkier brother pulling a cart full of apples that the younger sister had more than likely spent the whole morning bucking down from the trees surrounding the farm.

"I wouldn't be too concerned about them, Smith. They are both at the peak of their health right now, and even the youngest of the lot is a energetic little one that most likely outlive you all."

Though if he was being honest, the figure was more concerned that the antics that little filly and her enthuastic friends got into would lead to someone elses untimely demise. The ponies in this town really liked to be on the edge of disaster ever couple of weeks...it was a miracle this town didn't make his job harder than what it already was...though the Elements of Harmony living in the vicinity definitely helped in that factor.

Glancing back at the old mare, Death gave a nod and moved to step off the porch, remembering he still had other places to be today.

"It's about time I was on my way, Smith. While your family is fine there are others that need my attention." The figure stated, summoning his staff once more as he glanced towards the young mare helping her brother take their bounty into the barn nearby. Both of the farmers were in great shape, and Death hoped that he wouldn't have to pick these apples from the tree before they ripened. "I'll be back to see you in a weeks time, try to be more aware of your surroundings next time we meet? I'd rather not spook you into an early grave."

Vanishing in a swirl of shadows, the old mare couldn't even get the chance to fire back at Death, choosing to instead let out a huff and pick Winona up into the chair with her, stroking the dogs head softly as she watched her grandchildren work the farm from the comfort of her porch.

"That little...teasing the elderly like that...teach him some manners next time he shows his face around here" She grumbled, though a smile went across her face as her fears had been temporarily suppressed for the time being. "Oh well...Ah'll take any teasing if it means just one more day with the ones ah love."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stepping from the shadows once more, Death found himself not only in a small cottage, but in the company of animals...a lot of them.

A plentiful amount of birds, squirrels, foxes and other forests animals were huddled in the living space of this humble abode. At the center of this little huddle party was a tearful pegasus holding what looked to be an sparrow close to her body. Said bird had bandages around his plumage, but the coverings were bloodied and seemed to be doing little to save the birds already dwindling life.

Bringing the parchment from his robes, Death opened it and found the name "Freewing" listed in red. Rolling it up and returning it within his person the hooded one walked past the animals gathered and knelt before the pegasus, revealing his face to the bird as it looked up at him.

"Hello, little sparrow." Death spoke softly, reaching out stroking the birds back gently as the sparrow let out a weak chirp. The sorrowful pegasus holding him felt a shiver go up her back, and though she glanced in his direction Death could tell she could not see him despite what her bodies instincts told her.

How many times have I visited this cottage? How many of your animal friends have I helped pass to the other side, bearer of kindness? And yet you still persist, looking after each one of these animals as if they were your blood no matter how many you have to say good-bye to.

It truly amazed Death. This pegasus truly earned her title and beyond. There probably wasn't a single animal in this world that the mare would not care for. Hell, her kindness extended to even the sentient creatures of this world, despite some of them being less than savorable people in their own right and definitely undeserving of her nature.

However, having such an open heart came with it's drawbacks, and Death found himself frequenting this cottage more than any other place in Ponyville. Animals didn't live nearly as long as ponies, and this poor mare lost many of her friends to the varying reasons that could only be blamed on the cruel world of nature.

Softly turning his hand, Death cupped the bird into his palm and raised it slowly. An almost see-through apparition of the sparrow was held aloft in his hand, looking nearly exactly the same as the corporeal form bar the transparent look. The physical body below shuddered slightly before slowly relaxing into its final slumber.

A peaceful, painless death for a peaceful bird.

As the pegasus beside Death craddled the liveless husk close and wept softly, Death rose and stepped back as he watched the animals around the room circle the mare, comforting her as they shared in her sorrrow. Holding the spirit in his hands, the sparrow glanced back at the mare and let out an almost mournful cry as the bird watched his friend and caretaker cry over his now cold body.

"Be at peace, little one...look how many were here for you in your last moments." Death spoke, his voice bringing the sparrows attention back to him. If this wouldn't have been his job, the sorrow-filled gaze of the bird would've made the figure be just as bad as the element bearer close by.

But this was something he was well beyond accustomed to. And it would take more than just another spirit to cause Death to hesitate to do his job.

"You can rest easy knowing that you were loved, dear Freewing. Rest well, and enjoy the freedom that the beyond gives you." Death whispered, pulling the sparrow into his robes as he embraced the spirit, feeling the sparrow slowly fade as the spirit passed on.

Returning his hood over his face, Death gave one last glance to the pegasus before him before walking towards the front door, phasing through it as Death glanced up at the sky and spotted the sun shining down from above. Staring at it for a while a scowl etched across his skull as he turn his gaze back to the field before him.

"Another death...and yet your sun still shines like nothing happened." Death whispered, his voice empty as he summoned his staff once more. Just as the hooded one was about to vanish, a loud snap appeared from behind him. Letting out an annoyed sigh, Death turned to face one of the few who had the gall to interrupt Death.

"Ah, the god of Chaos." Death said, holding his staff beside him as the draconequus floated before him. "How goes the reformed life, Discord? Learn the importance of a life that isn't yours? Or are you as conceited as you were a thousand years ago."

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Discord popped out of existance, just to appear beside Death once more. Flipping his hood back, Discord put his paw around Deaths neck in a side hug as a big grin came across his face.

"Death old buddy, you haven't changed a bit! Just as gloomy and doomy as you were when I was king!" Discord stated with a cackle before his smile dropped to the ground...literally, as Death watched it roll across the grass despite still being in use. "You'll find that I am a changed draconequus, one that actually has friends...though I guess that's not something you'd know anything about now would you?"

Unfazed by the taunts Death merely barked out a laugh as he lifted a boot and brought it down on the mouth, holding it in place as it got flattened under his heel. The sharp intake of breath that came from Discord brought a grin to Deaths skull as he held his boot in place.

"So the rumormill says...though I wonder how long your little change of heart will last? The element of Kindness isn't immortal, Discord. Surely you don't expect me to believe that your going to keep up this act when she's gone, do you?"

Snapping his mouth back to his face with a fingersnap, Discord pulled away from Death and moved in front of him, staring into the empty sockets of his face with a unusually serious expression.

"If you think I'd let you get your filthy hands on dear Fluttershys soul then you've forgotten who I am." Discord stated, snapping his fingers as a mini Fluttershy appeared in the chaos lords lion paw, looking at discord for a moment before letting out a startled little "eep!" when her eyes landed on Death. "She is a treasure beyond any other living creature I've ever seen, and I wont let a pure soul like her be whisked from this world by the likes of you."

Death glanced at the mini Fluttershy, who was currently cowering in the face of both entities. Reaching out he grasped the little pegasus in his hand and squeezed, a dark light emitting from within his grip before he pulled his hand away, revealing naught but bones where the illusion had been before. Said bones became dust before the Chaos Lord, who glared daggers at Death.

"You forget yourself, Discord. I'm not some fancy princess you get to taunt or some mere mortal you can outwit. I'm death, and sooner or later all things must return to my embrace, no matter how much power they weild."

Staring down the chaos lord Death held his ground, his staff glowing brightly in his hand as if begging the draconequus to try something.

"While I applaud your ability to recognize the importance of a life, don't think it means you get to meddle in the affairs of others. Chaos may be your domain, but I am the master of mortality." Death kept his sockets locked on Discords eyes for a moment longer before shaking his head and backing off. "Enjoy the time you have with mortals, Discord. Getting caught up in trying to make things last forever will only bring ruin to both you and those you try to force it onto."

Turning away from the serpent, Death tapped his staff against the ground twice. As the shadows enircled him once more, Discord flew around to met his gaze once more. Though he seemed less hostile now as his face seemed to be more...melancholic.

"I'll give it some thought." He muttered before glancing behind Death at the cottage. "One more thing...I'm not sure where to go from here. I'm not used to things I enjoy having an expiration date."

Taken aback by the sudden vunerability shown before him, Death smiled softly and reached out, booping Discord on his snout as the shadows picked up speed around his robes.

"Then take my advice: embrace what you have now, and don't waste it. If your enjoying your time with the Element bearer as much as it seems you are, simply live in the moment. Beings like you and I have all the time in the world, so make sure that this little blip matters rather than stressing over tomorrow."

Vanishing in a swirl of darkness, Discord was left floating alone in the open field outside Fluttershys house. Turning back to the Cottage where Fluttershy was undoubtedly still grieving over the loss of one of her friends, Discord floated over to the front door and opened it, exiting inside to go be there for the one who was willing to call him a friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reappearing across town, Death found himself once more in front of the library. Narrowing his eyes, he pulled his hood back over his head as he pulled out the parchment from his robes. Opening it and seeing no name for the location present, Death placed it back before returning his gaze to the giant tree.

"I was supposed to be at Canterlot...why the hell did I appear here?" Death muttered, though a bit of movement from the library window caught his gaze. Looking up to the second floor, Death realized that the newly appointed Alicorn was staring down at him from the window with a surprised look on her face. It seems he had been warped here just as the mare decided to open a window, and now she stared with an absolutely dropped jaw...meaning she had likely seen his skull head before he had thrown his hood back up.

I don't blame her though. I'm a tall bipedal figure wearing black robes that cover me from head to toe, I definitely stand out among the ponies around here.

Death watched with amusement as a couple of ponies walked straight through him, causing the lavender mare to sputter out some half-words before quickly pulling away from the window and out of sight. Deciding that it wasn't yet time for their meeting, Death vanished and reappeared in the shadows of the buildings nearby, watching from afar as the princess popped into sight in the middle of the road, spooking a couple ponies at her sudden appearance.

As the mare began to ask if any of the townsfolk had seen the hooded figure in the road, Death shook his head and walked further down the alley, pulling out his parchment as the next name on the list finally appeared. Death could tell his sudden disappearance was going to stick with the mare, but there would be a better time later to introduce himself. For now, he had a job to do.

All in good time, Princess. Enjoy these moments of purity while you can, for I doubt you'll see this world the same when we next speak.

Author's Note

Alright, here we go. Thats more like it for my size goal. Most chapters will probably be around this size unless I say otherwise.

Hope yall enjoyed it!