Twilight stirred. Something disturbed her from a rest so perfect that nothing should have been able to wake her. A rest where nothing could reach her, and she found herself wishing to reach it once again.
At first, she didn’t have the will or strength to resist the tug, and it kept pulling her higher. Making her more awake, more able to think. The pain came soon.
Not a physical ache, but rather, a mental and emotional one. She had retreated from that pain, and wished for it to end again. The pain she had found when she discovered that she was dead. When she discovered the circumstances about how she died, and everypony’s reactions to how she died.
She didn’t want to remember what she could never mend. She didn’t want to think and be trapped with those thoughts for eternity in death.
So she struggled, reached back toward her rest, but found herself unable to. The pull was indomitable, perfect, and nothing she did could slow or stop her rise. She thrashed against it, but after a few moments of vain struggle, went limp and let it drag her.
Her pain was not as sharp as it once was. The knowledge was a dull blade in her, but it was something that she could live with if she had to. It didn’t overcome all else as it once had.
“Twilight Sparkle, awaken.”
Twilight opened her eyes in surprise; the voice was her own. She stared at what had spoken and was speechless.
What stood in front of her was herself. In a way. It was herself like she might imagine what might happen to a pony who had died like she had.
Massive burns were all along the form, and the flesh was torn and hanging in spots. Only one eye was still there, and it was a cloudy black, implying blindness. The sight was sickening, and yet, Twilight found it… acceptable.
“Good. You wake this time.” it said in her voice.
“…What?” Twilight asked, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She coughed and tried again, “What are you?”
“You mental faculties are functional, are they not?” it asked, still speaking in her own voice. Twilight found herself mildly distressed by it; what was in front of her? “Or perhaps they are impaired from your own thoughts… Very well. I shall explain.”
“I am Death. I am the end, the closing of the story, the rest of all life. This place is a tiny part of me, and this broken form, a representation that fits your mind’s concept of ‘your death’. It is automatic; mortals always see me in such a manner.”
“Can you look like something else? Seeing me dead is… well… upsetting.”
“No. I want your mind and soul in one piece, not shattered. You cannot endure my actual form. Accept the simple lie, and do not ask questions to things you won’t like the answer to. Your afterlife will be much happier.”
Twilight frowned at it, and then sighed. “Why did you wake me anyway? I want to rest. I want to… to stop thinking again.”
“I need you Twilight Sparkle. And I am willing to offer you a few things in return for your services.”
“… If I say no?”
“…Then I shall put you back, and find another that is less than you.”
“Ah!” it interrupted as she opened her mouth to tell it to do just that, “I didn’t finish.”
“If you refuse, you will find your rest. But should you accept, I will give you… a ‘second chance’.”
“A second chance?”
“You have regrets, strong ones. You had to go very deep to be rid of them. I offer the chance to heal those pains.”
“…How?”
“If you accept, you will be bound to me, and do what I ask of you. In return, I will raise you back to life, and you will find the end to your suffering. A mutually beneficial agreement, is it not?”
“… You can do that?” Twilight asked, hope rising.
“I am death. Should I choose to turn a blind eye, then you will live again. Well, Twilight Sparkle? Deny me and rest, or accept, and live again as my servant. Think about it carefully; I am far from a kind master. I am willing to wait until you feel ready.”
Twilight nodded, and considered. Denial was an easy consideration; say no and return to that place where nothing mattered and ash could sleep without her pain.
Accept, and live again. Actually return to life. Resurrection. A second chance, a chance to stop everpony’s suffering and bring them happiness that nopony had ever experienced before. But it also meant serving death.
And what might death want from her? What could… it? He? It, desire for her to do? She glanced at it before deciding that it wasn’t going to tell her. So only one question was left that decided between yes and no:
Is what death was going to ask of her going to destroy any chance at her finding happiness again?
She didn’t know. It had warned her about itself, but… A second chance is worthless if that chance is taken by the one giving it. Death is considered absolute; therefore, it probably was telling the truth when it said that she would have a chance.
Twilight nodded again, deciding. The choice was easy in the end.
No only meant that nothing changed.
Yes meant that something might, and a chance is always better than never trying.
“Alright.” she said, “I accept.”
Her dead form smiled. “I had hoped you would. Welcome to my service Twilight Sparkle. My newest reaper.”
“I grant you the power you will need to accomplish my tasks. Ready yourself Twilight Sparkle.”
Its eyes glowed a light blue, and a freezing chill filled Twilight, making her gasp and shiver. It reached all the way to her core, touched every part of her. After a few moments, it slowed, and she began warming again, though the cold remained.
It nodded and then spoke deliberately, for once, her voice fading and a far deeper one taking its place.
“I reject you. This is not your home anymore. My gaze turns from you, and you live once more. Rise, and do not return to here!”
It turned from her, and Twilight began rising again. A light glittered above her and she smiled as she stared at it. It seemed to represent her new hope, and it grew brighter as she slowly drifted to it. She was already planning to do so much, say so much, to everypony. She was eager to start.
The cold was in her, but she didn’t care. She had sworn service to death itself, but she didn’t care. Nothing could diminish her hope and budding happiness.
After all, she had what nopony else had ever had;
A second chance.