Death. That was all I saw. I looked to my left, and I saw a Griffon tearing at a Pegasus. I looked to my right, and I saw a Dragon crushing 3 Earth ponies with its tail. And all the while, I lay here on the ground, bloodied and beaten. I lay here with a hole in my chest from a Griffon getting the best of me.
For three long years, we've fought the Kingdom of Gryphonia and the Dragon Lords. For three long years, we lost our cities and villages and ponies to the horror of war. For three long years, I hoped that one day I would see it all end. Now here I am, at my end of the war. My end of the war.
I remember the days when I had nothing to worry about. I got up in the morning, went to my classes in Canterlot, and had an amazing time all the while. I would occasionally go see a mare that I'd started talking to. Then I'd go home, rinse and repeat.
Then the Gryphons started to expand. King Greybeak began to send his troops across our borders and took our villages. They slaughtered the ponies there without hesitation, and burned everything when they were done. When the Princesses tried to meet with the King, he dismissed them saying, "I have nothing to say to those who cannot defend their own people. I have come for war, and war I shall receive. Even if it is one sided."
Hearing that, the Princesses called the ponies of Equestria to arms to fight the Gryphons. As the Equestrian Royal Military was much smaller and weaker than that of Gryphonia, any and all ponies without a spouse or children were drafted into the military. That's why I'm here, on the ground, dying.
My father couldn't be called to arms, but I could. My parents tried to stop the draft from taking me, but I accepted it. My exact words were, "I would gladly die fighting for the Princesses, you, and everyone in Equestria."
I'm starting to regret it. I feel like the only reason I'm in this position is because I said that.
Even though I may regret it, I'm happy knowing I died fighting for all the ponies back home who are scared out of their minds.
I looked to my right again. The dragon from before is dead now. A blast from a unicorn killed him.
The dragons. If they weren't in this, we would have a much easier time fighting. The Gryphons managed to persuade the Dragon Lords to attack Equestria as well. They told them that our nation was too weak to be allowed to remain. That we were nothing but prey, and they were the predators.
When they crossed over, the Princesses also tried to speak to the Council of the Dragon Lords. Apparently, only one of its members was against the war. He was found dead a few weeks after they had a meeting concerning the negotiations. Totally not suspicious at all.
Oh, here it comes. The end. I can feel myself fading, I can see that bright light they say you see when you die. Or is that just Celestia's sun looking down on me, guiding me into a peaceful afterlife. I guess I'll find out when I get there.
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I opened my eyes to see nothing but black.
"Where am I? Oh, right, I died.", I said, standing up, "I thought the afterlife would be a bit more... welcoming. I guess not, because this place is empty."
Welcome, little pony....
I turned, thinking that I had heard something. A voice, and a very creepy one at that.
"Is there somepony out there? Anywhere?" I yelled into the black void, hoping to get an answer.
Yes... I am here...
I looked everywhere around me, looking for the voice, "Where are you? Who are you?"
Turn and you shall face me. Do not be alarmed by my appearance, mortal.
I turned around slowly. At first nothing was there, but once I blinked, there was what looked like a stallion in a tattered black cloak. I jumped back, surprised, and land on the... ground? Sure, the ground.
Do not be afraid, mortal. I have brought you here to offer you something.
The only thing that was creepier that how he looked was that his voice didn't sound like a voice. It was more like an echo that came from everywhere.
"And what would that be? Wait, before that, who are you?" I said, not getting an answer earlier.
I have gone by many names... The one you may be most familiar with is Death.
"Wait," I said, finding it hard to believe, "You're Death? As is the Reaper? What do you want with me? I'm already dead, so you don't need anything from me. Right?"
Little pony, you ask many questions... Many annoying questions... I need not explain myself to you, I am simply here to offer you what you've always wanted...
I stared at the dark pony in front of me. What I always wanted? I'm not quite sure what that would be, since I lived a pretty satisfying life. Other than dying, of course.
"Alright, what is 'what I've always wanted'?" I asked, hoping to get a straight answer for once.
Little pony, you will be shocked by what I will tell you... Equestria will fall, your friends and family will die, your Princesses will be executed... And you are the only one who can stop it...
I stared in disbelief, completely taken back by what Death had just told me. Everyone I know dying. Equestria being destroyed, and Celestia and Luna dying. And only I could stop it?
I know what you are thinking... 'How could I possibly stop the fall of a nation, while they it is being attack by two greater ones'. It is quite simple... I will give you the power to do so, in return for one thing...
Oh, great. Here comes the part where he demands my soul. I knew there was something fishy about this.
I ask only that you do not abuse the power I shall give you... Many a great ponies have been given this power, but they were corrupted by it... I feel you are different, that greed is not in your mind... That you have a kind and loving heart, and that you are the perfect partner for this power...
"Ok," I half said, half whimpered, "How can I save Equestria? What is this power?"
I am going to make you a God... A God of death, destruction, and of war... A God with the power to kill the Princesses themselves with a single blow... I shall make you the God known as Legend...
For what felt like the millionth time today, I stared at Death, and my mind completely out of control. I could save Equestria and become a God. That would be amazing, but I couldn't help but feel like something was still strange about all of this. But that didn't matter. The only thing that did, was that Equestria could be wiped out if I didn't do this.
"Ok, Death," I said, confidently as I stood up, "I accept your offer. I shall become... Legend."
Death floated closer to me and hovered for a while.
Very good, little pony... Kneel and I shall make you Legend...
I did as I was told and knelt, much like one did for the Princesses. Death place his skeletal hoof on my forehead.
State your name and province, little pony...
Still kneeling I said, "IronTrot, of the village of Neighvgorod."
IronTrot of Neighvgorod, I, Death, ruler and God of the afterlife, make you my vassal. I make you Legend, God of destruction and war. I give you immortality and power beyond comprehension. Abuse this power and you will be punished. A punishment befitting a God.
A punishment befitting a God? I didn't know what that meant, but I didn't plan on finding out. All I wanted was to save my kingdom, and I wasn't planning on abusing the power that allowed me to do so.
Death still had his hoof on my head. When he removed it, I felt a sudden surge go through me. I gave my body a quick look over and everything was still the same. Death must have noticed my confusion because he spoke up.
Your soul remains the same, Legend... Would you like to see your new body?
After a quick nod from me, Death pulled an orb from his cloak. I looked into it and I saw the battlefield again. There were thousands of ponies fighting and even more dead. The Gryphons and Dragons completely outnumbered them three to one.
All of a sudden, the focus went onto my dead body. My body with the gaping hole in the middle of its chest, it's organs clearly visible. I couldn't help but cringe and feel a bit nauseous.
It is a sad sight to view ones body defile and lifeless... But allow me to give you your new body, Legend.
'He keeps calling me Legend,' I thought to myself, 'better get used to it.'
As I turned my attention back to the orb, a pitch black aura had surrounded it and lifted it a few feet into the air. Most, if not all, of the fighting came to a stop, almost as if they were forced to look at my body. It began to twist and morph before it was engulfed by a black cocoon.
"Death, what's happening to my body? And what is that thing around it?" I said.
Your new body is being built from your old one... You will be impressed... As for the aura, that is my magic... Also, it is time for you to return to the world of the living and save your people... Send the Princesses my regards, and know we will meet again in the future...
I looked up at Death when he said that. Then I noticed I couldn't move my body. Death put his hoof on my head once again, but this time he pushed me. I began to fall, even though I was pretty sure there was solid ground behind me. For a few seconds I saw nothing... again.
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A/N: This is just an idea I had for a story and I wanted some feedback. If you could please comment on it, it would be greatly appreciated. If enough people say they enjoyed this, I'll continue it.