The Stars Revolt: Mortality · 2:32am Dec 28th, 2019
Fluttershy and Shepherd were out, enjoying watching bats snag insects under the summer moon. Both sat on a blanket, Fluttershy in her human form. She is snuggled against him, one of her wings wrapped around his shoulders as he held her close in his arms.
Fluttershy: "... Shepherd?
Shepherd: "Mm?"
Fluttershy: "... If Twilight becomes a princess... She'll be immortal."
Shepherd: "I... Well, yeah. Functionally, I suppose."
Fluttershy: "... Have you thought about what... What might happen between all of us? If that happens?"
Shepherd: "... Well, marriage for one."
Fluttershy: "I meant... Longer term."
Shepherd: *Lets out a long sigh* "... Maybe too much."
Fluttershy: *Just looks at him*
Shepherd: "... I know I'm mortal. And I know humans probably don't live as long as ponies do. Granny Smith is, what, two centuries old? And I know there's magic to enhance lifespans but... I do know that eventually, I guess I'll just... Stop."
Fluttershy: *Still silent*
Shepherd: "... What do you think?"
Fluttershy: "I think... That it will hurt terribly when I lose you. I don't like to think about it, but... I have. I don't even know if we'll go to the same afterlife. And I know that we'll leave Twilight all alone. And I know she's strong and wonderful, but I think the prospect scares her. Of being all alone. Oh, we can live for much longer: I've talked with the Princesses and Twilight's been researching it. I'm confident we'll get many, many wonderful years but eventually... Yes. It will end. It's how nature is. The way of the world."
Shepherd: "..." He laughed softly.
Fluttershy: "Mm? What?"
Shepherd: "Well... A writer on my world once said that man was given the gift of death for a good reason. It made him different from the immortals. It encourages Man to seize the moment and make the day count. To do new things, have new adventures, and take chances. That Death wasn't an enemy. That Death cared for his harvest, and wanted it to be the best that it can. Like a farmer... Or you, with your animals."
Fluttershy: *Smiles* "And so?"
Shepherd: "I don't look forward to death. But it helps me to reconcile it by thinking that it's not just the end. It's a new beginning." *He looked at her* "And that making the most of our time together is what life is about. So... We don't get as long as we want. But we do what we can with the time we have. *He grinned* "Sure you want to spend it with a clumsy ape like me?"
Fluttershy: *sighs sadly* "I don't like it when you do that, you know."
Shepherd: "Hm?"
Fluttershy: "That... That self deprecation. I don't like it. You always put yourself down, and I-I don't like it... Sorry."
Shepherd: "I guess... I guess I'm just used to it. It helps me sometimes-"
Fluttershy: "But so many other times, it feels like you're hurting yourself. Because it's a safe way to hurt something." *She scowled at Shepherd* "It... It's to let out your anger at a safe target, but-but all it does is hurt you. And I don't like things hurting you."
Shepherd: "... So what should I do instead?"
Fluttershy: *Kisses his cheek* "Accept that you are loved. That you have an immortal princess and me who want to share you. That I'm willing to give up even my species just to have your children, and make you happy. Because you make us happy."
Shepherd: "You don't have to go that far-"
Fluttershy: "But I will. And even further. And I know it scares you. And it sometimes scares me. I feel before I think anything of it, when it comes to you. But... That's love." *She snuggled up against him* "So you keep me from going too far... And I'll keep you from going too far."
Shepherd: *sighs* "I think we're both kind of messed up."
Fluttershy: "We're all kind of messed up... But that makes us work."
- - -
Stupid mushiness returns. Of course, once Fluttershy ascends to alicorn and Shepherd... Goes Ascended Human, this conversation will be moot. But I liked it enough to post.
It's a nice conversation. And well done.
Wish I had talent like this for writing the mushy stuff.
I know a lot of people get really upset with the prospect of Twilight outliving her friends. I think this is a big reason why I've never thought the same way. They will never have a replacement once they are gone. But that doesn't mean they can't make the good times count along the way. And on top of that provided Twilight sticks to the lessons she's learned then there are plenty of new friends to make.
As the cutest anthropomorphic personification of Death I've seen so far (the one in Sandman) said...
You get what anyone gets. You get a lifetime.
Well met, Andrew Shepherd
"You? Really?"
This world, as you may have noticed, contained passingly few humans. As a result, the local processes are ill-equipped to handle you. So they called in an expert, as it were.
"Ah. Big fan of your work. Er, the, uh, side jobs. Not that your usual work isn't important—!"
Relax, Mr. Shepherd. I come as an end to worries, not a source of them. And I too enjoy Sir Terry's tales. That he felt the need to include me in so many of them was... gratifying. Now come. Your next great adventure awaits.
'I can't believe it will be any greater than what I'm leaving behind."
And one cold blue flame winked out for a moment. Perhaps in... another generation.
🙂
So sweet and mushy. But nice.
5176426
Eh? Pratchett?
I thought it was referring to Tolkien.
5176583
I was referring to both.