Until Death itself comes...

I was dying.

I've been dying for a long time. It was inevitable, most would say. I wasn't all that frazzled. Just another name, another number, another mare, gone. It's not like I had anypony close to me. Nopony would mourn me. I would go gently into that good night, a certain stallion would say.

I was diagnosed a while ago, a certain sickness. I could not tell you the name now, moments away from death. Does it matter? Ultimately, I wouldn't think so. It made me sick, and that's that. Nothing else to it. I'm rambling, aren't I?

Perhaps I am scared of dying, after all, there are so many things to do in Equestria. Places to see, books to read, movies to watch, jokes to laugh at. Ponies often forget it's the simple things in life. Or perhaps, they always knew. It's hard to tell sometimes. Or, at the very least, it's hard for me.

I blink lethargically.

I'm currently at a hospital. Just a white bed, white sheets, white pillow. The room is white too. Too white. What a strange thing, death. I've contemplated my circumstances too many a time, often ending in tears, but then I would somehow, always, return back to the monotone hospital room, as if that was on par with my impending death.

I blink again.

A face looked down at me.

Now, I could try to explain what that face looked like, but I could not for the life of me, try to comprehend what was looking at me. I thought about maybe opening my mouth, to say something, maybe even just a simple greeting. Too much effort. I stayed quiet and looked on.

I blink again.

The face was gone.

A near death hallucination, perhaps? I smiled weakly at that. Some part of me had always wanted to have a hallucination, maybe just to say I had one. Other times just to feel or see something out of this world. I would be an explorer of new places and feelings.

Oh, the face is back.

"Hey." I blink. That was me, right? It's been too long since I've used my voice. The face shifted, it almost seemed embarrassed. I didn't press, embarrassment sucks. Wise philosophy of a dead mare.

That reminds me, I have a half baked poem on the counter next to the bed. I stretched my head just slightly but I couldn't see the piece of paper. I slumped back into my bed. Ah well, it's not like it was important or anything.

The face coughed. I look back with expectancy. I mean, come on, this...face came all this way to see me. At least, I think that's what's happening here. Then again, I could be delusional.

"I'm sorry."

I blink again. I wasn't expecting anything, but that might've been the most surprising thing ever. "I forgive you."

"What?"

"I forgive you." That's what the Princess of Friendship is always talking about, right? Friendship, forgiveness, yada yada. I dunno, never had friends.

"But...why?"

"I dunno. You seem distraught. So, I forgive you."

"You don't even know who I am."

"Do I need to?" Just for the record, I'm still not convinced that this chat is real. I mean, come on. It's so sketchy. A faceless face that just appears out of nowhere and apologizes? I must really be closer to death than I thought.

"Well...maybe."

"Then introduce yourself. That's polite." I'm totally guessing. I don't know anything about politeness.

"Uh, heh..." There's a pause. I let it. It's not like I'm in a hurry. "That's a bit complicated."

"Pff. As if I have energy to care about that."

"...alright. My name is Death."

"Ooo. Nice to meet you. I'm..."

"I know who you are. I'm here for you."

"That's great news then. Take me away." I wanted to wiggle my forelegs as a joke more than anything, but I found that I couldn't lift them. I looked down mournfully. I liked moving my hooves.

"Yeah, just let me..." The face looked back at me with big eyes. The only thing that was in focus. They were a nice shade of blue. Very nice shade. "You're distracting me! I have another job besides picking up souls."

"Oh, what's that?"

"I serve as a comforter."

"No offense, Mister Death, but I don't think the concept of death personified is a very comforting thing."

"Heh, no, you're right. It's just...how should I explains this?"

"Don't ask me."

"I wasn't." The face paused, then there was a shimmer. Death was no longer Death, but instead Princess Celestia. "I'm a shapeshifter."

"Changeling."

"...sure." 'Princess Celestia' raised a hoof and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "My job is to become the pony the deceased loved most and comfort them while they're passing between worlds. Except uhh..."

"I don't have anypony I love and vice versa."

"...yeah." 'Princess Celestia's' ears drooped.

"How about we switch then. You show me your true form and I'll become the one you love the most."

"...that's now how it works."

"yes it does, I say it does." I got up from my bed with surprising ease. I looked back and saw why. My soul was now untethered from my physical body. "Come on, it couldn't hurt. Just, lie down."

There was a long drawn out pause. "All right."

'Princess Celestia' laid down in the place I previously was and stared at me. I stared back. 'Princess Celestia' grimaced and reluctantly shed the disguise, replacing her with the shadowy face again. I stared harder. The face sighed and shifted again. This time, a small changeling with fuzzy edges, as if the creature didn't belong in the same time space.

A small smile graced my lips as I traipsed to where Death was lounging. I sat down and leaned against the changeling.

"I don't know who or what you love, not that I know much about love, but, thank you for trying at least. See you next time, all right?"