Life and Death are like oil and water. They have nothing in common. They only make contact when a pony dies and only for a second as your life flashes before your eyes in memories. As you die, Life pours its memories into your mind to make you happy as Death takes your hoof and leads you away. No one knows for sure where Death takes them, but there are many beliefs.
Life had a white coat and a beautiful golden mane. Most ponies loved her, but there were a few who couldn't wait for her to leave. She was cheerful and vibrant, but she had a fierce side too. She had a bad tendency to stab ponies in the back. However, after a very long period of time, Life would apologize. Her heart held all the memories ponies made and her magic masked the truth of Death.
Death had a black coat and a dull gray mane. Some ponies couldn't wait for her arrival, but most were afraid of her. She only talked when addressed which rarely happened to her. However, Death never backstabbed anypony. Her heart held no memory, but it was peaceful. Death was serene. She held ponies hooves on the way to their afterlife and left them in peace for eternity. It should've sounded exciting. So, why we're ponies so afraid of her?
As a pony in the hospital took her final breath, Life began to give the mare to Death. The doctor announced the time of the mare's death. "Time of death: 10:28 PM."
Death didn't expect to be talked to and she began to lead the mare away. But Life's head burned with questions for Death and Life tugged at Death's cloak to stop her.
"Death?"
Death wasn't very surprised at the sudden addressment. "Yes?"
"I have a question," Life claimed. "It's been bothering me for a while now."
"Very well," Death nodded solemnly. "Ask what you wish."
Life looked at the mare. She had a yellow coat, a carnation pink mane, and Life could not see her eye color due to them being shut. Her frail wings didn't even flutter. Her cutie mark was three pink butterflies. The mare was still young and Life could tell that she had planned on living much longer. Instead, she was wounded and ushered into the emergency room. The doctors could not save her life and the mare's friends had come to say their final goodbyes to her. However, the mare looked so peaceful and relaxed, not scared.
"Why do ponies like me, but are afraid of you?" Life asked.
Death didn't skip a beat. "Because," she answered. "You are a beautiful lie and I'm a painful truth."
Life was confused. "Lie? What do you mean?"
"You are temporary," Death explained. "You wow them with happiness, hit them with sorrow, and then apologize. However, you get forgiveness so fast." Death paused. "I am forever. Once I lead ponies away, that beauty is gone. They don't like to face the lie of what they lived. So, they fear me. You trick them in to thinking I'll be painful. You make them think I'll be the cause of pain. But they only fear the truth."
Life began to argue. "That's not true!" Life snapped. "You do hurt, Death."
"I bring peace," Death replied simply. "I end the suffering."
Life looked at the mare. Her name on the clipboard read 'Fluttershy'. A faint smile was stretched across her lips. Life couldn't argue against the fact that she looked peaceful.
Death woke the mare with a gentle prod. The mare sat up in surprise and looked around. She now flickered in and out softly like the flame of a candle. The mare resembled a ghostly figure, but she knew that wasn't what she was. Death took Fluttershy's hoof and began to lead her away.
"She was attacked by Timberwolves from the looks of these wounds," Life said.
Death stopped and looked at Life. She arched an eyebrow and listened closely to what Life had to say next.
"That must've hurt," Life continued.
"The process of dying hurts a little, maybe," Death said. "Not death itself."
Life was once again rendered speechless by Death's surprising answers. Life suddenly felt a bit worthless.
"Then, why do ponies need me?" Life asked tears filling her eyes. "If you're so much more honest than me, what do I exist for?"
"Don't worry, Life," Death assured. "Without you, they couldn't face me."
"So, that's all I'm good for then," Life cried. "Preparing ponies for you."
Life's thoughts overtook her. Is this really all I'm good for? Preparing ponies for Death? What do I exist for then?
"No, your heart is full of precious moments," Death said. "Those are the memories they want to keep, Life. The ones you give them."
Life wanted to once more argue with Death, but again she couldn't. Death's answers never failed to render her speechless and give her nothing to reply. Life thought about what Death had said. She was right. Life's heart gave ponies the memories they had to smile and laugh about. Those memories were Life's gift to the living. They had to keep those gifts safe and take care of them as if they were a fragile possession. Without the memories Life gave, what would ponies have to smile and laugh about? What precious moments would cheer them up? How would ponies have fun? Would they even remember the fun that they had?
Life smiled and gave Fluttershy to Death. "Take care of her."
"You can trust me," Death said. "It may not seem like it, but you can trust me."
Death took Fluttershy's hoof and led her down a dark tunnel. What Life didn't know, at the end of that tunnel, was a light. As Death led her closer to the light, it began to shine brighter. It only got brighter as they got closer to it. Life couldn't see the light from where she stood. For her, it would always be too far to reach. The light could only be reached if they walked with Death. The light was the peace that all ponies would feel after Death led them down the tunnel. The happiness they would get forevermore. Death turned to see Life watching the two walk down the tunnel. Death gave a small wave and nod. Life waved back. As they walked further down the tunnel, the light still continued to grow. It should've been blinding, but it wasn't. Instead, this light was comforting. When they reached the end, Death let go of the mare's hoof and nodded. "It's time for you to go."
The mare nodded slowly and disappeared into the blinding light. Death watched the mare as she walked into the light with a smile. The light at the end of the tunnel wouldn't hurt. Death knew that. Even though ponies feared her, Death knew that she was nopony to be afraid of.