(Present)
Rainbow Dash stood in the white room in utter disbelief. Where ever she looked, there were colorful crystals holding different types of creatures. Slowly, every so slowly, she broke out of her trance and started to walk around the room. Kinkus, earth ponies, Pegasi, unicorns, and more were frozen in time. All beautifully arranged in tiers. No blemishes were found on these sleeping creatures. But that was to be expected. They were in an Alicorn memorial. A beautiful room to honor the dead. If their families were alive, they would have been touched.
“You honor us greatly, my Lord,” she said with a bow. It was tradition to say such words and bow before one with such an esteemed position. To not do so would go against everything she’d been taught. Dash blinked, pausing. It was extremely strange bowing before him, but at the same time it wasn’t. She used to only ever bow before Celestia, and even that was rare. Part of her fought against it, screaming that he was the enemy she should fight with everything she had! But as the same time, she also felt oddly at peace, as if this was the right thing to do. She wasn’t really sure how to feel at this point. She shook her head to clear it. Everything was so confusing!
With a nod Sombra continued the rest, “… by your sacrifice I am honored to give you this.”
She smiled. It felt weird having someone else’s memories inside her head, but they were her’s at one point. Why was it so hard sorting out these memories? Dazzling Bow’s reverence and worship of Sombra clashed with her memories of fighting him. She was in a constant battle of her mind as she explored the crystalline memorial. Part of her didn’t believe that it didn’t happen. That it was not her previous life. What really shocked her the most was that she had kids! Kids!? Her? She wasn’t the motherly type! Never had been and never will be. But apparently she, in previous life, had kids. Not one, not two, but three little ones. How could sh….
Her thoughts stopped dead in their tracks at the site before her. A green pegusis incased in crystal stood in front of her. The pegusis was reaching for the sky with a triumphant look on their face. Their wings were spread out as if they were taking flight. The feathers were the colors of the rainbow like her hair. But what struck Dash as weird was that the pegusis was the only one that didn’t look like they were asleep. The pegusis’s rose colored eyes shone with hope that Dash didn’t feel at the moment.
“Who is this?” She asked Sombra. He tilted his head and smiled.
“Well, that is you, Miss Dash.” He answered. She gave him a questioning look.
She gave him a befuddled look, “What are you talking about?”
“She is you, Miss Dash, well a pass version of you. She was know as Dazzling Bow.”
“That was Dazzling Bow?” Shock flooded her system like a wave as she gazed upon her former self.
“Yes, one of the bravest beings I know.” He said with a sad smile. “She took on a mission knowing full well that was she never coming back with very little hope of success. But armed with headstrong determination, she went head first into danger. With her last breath she did the impossible. Dazzling gave the message to Da’lak’ar. Though Time did not allow him to help. But you did it and I am so proud.”
Tears streamed from Dash’s eyes as she looked at Sombra. She had no words to say to him. She wiped her tears with a watery smile. To Sombra’s surprise and hers, Dash tackled hugged him. With oof Sombra took a few steps back, but didn’t fall down. Dash was surprised to find that he was all muscle. Not a soft spot to be found.
“Uhhh… Miss Dash?” Sombra asked, “Are you ok? You are holding me a little to long.” He thinned his lips. Dash’s eyes widened at this and she quickly jumped off, apologizing profusely.
“Miss Rainbow Dash, it is alright.” He assured her, patting her head awkwardly. “There… There… no need to cry. I assure you there were certainly worse ways to respond to the information I revealed to you, and all of them would have been valid. Though I wish I could give you more time, Miss Dash, to come to grips with everything, but time is of the essence. What matters now is what you will do with this information. Will you take this new found knowledge and throw it away, staying with what you used to know. Or, Miss Dash, will you use this knowledge to further help yourself and your friends. Will you help Twilight when she wakes up in a few days to come to come to grips with her new memories?”
“Absolutely! I want to help anyway I can!” Dash said. She promised to herself that she will do whatever is necessary to help Twilight. Sombra smiled. A warm fuzzy feeling blossomed in her chest, she smiled back.
“Hey!” Boomed a voice, interrupting the tender moment. Sombra rolled his eyes. “I found two hooligans outside the barrier!”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Sombra shook his head, “Who is it?”
“Applejack and Pinkie Pie.” Discord said with a smile.
“Who?”
Ω
Pinkie screamed as she felt herself being pulled through a screaming tunnel. Claws pinched her hide as she slid through the swirling colors. With pop she was through. A second later Applejack appeared. Pinkie Pie looked up to see what was holding her. She screamed at the sight. A lion with green scales running up and down its face. The wind blew its purple fluffy mane in a chaotic way. Red irises on a yellow background stared at her as the creature regarded her. Pinkie felt a shiver of fear race down her spine.
The beast pursed its lips and shook its head. With a flick of its wrist, Pinkie went flying in the air along side Applejack. Both screamed as they flew in the air. The beast stretched its mismatch wings; a eagle’s wing and a dragon’s wing. It jumped, streaking towards the flying ponies. Its green scaly arms stretched out wide.
“Oof!” Pinkie’s breath woo-shed out her, as she landed on the flying steel bar. The beast pulled her into its fluffy chest as she struggled to breath. After awhile she gained her breath, her eyes adjusted to the blurry scenery. Green and a occasional multi-color blurs passed before her eyes. It was a rainbow of colors that Pinkie couldn’t keep up with. A headache started to form in the back of her eyes. She shut her eyes quickly to the pain. Her head started to spin.
Thud.
The flying stopped, but Pinkie’s head did not. “Round and round the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel… Wee!” Pinkie thought, her sight spinning from the sudden movement. Everything was so… blurry. She could almost feel her head spinning in circles in time to the pounding in her head. “…You spin right round, baby, right round, like a record…”
“Pinkie!” Pinkie heard somepony screech in the distance, the music doesn’t stop. Lala she wasn’t listening.
She heard a voice calling her, but the songs in her head persisted. “…Ring-a-round a rose-y! A pocket full… of… posies… As—"
“Pinkie, for apple sake! Stop singing!” Applejack interrupted Pinkie’s beautiful singing. How rude.
“Uhh…” Pinkie blinked, “We stopped flying.”
“Yes, about five minutes ago,” Applejack snapped struggling to get out of the steal bounds she was in, “you started singing when we entered the cave.”
“Uggg… another one? How many caves do we have to go into?” Pinkie’s voice echoed as she whined, “You see one cave, you see… Oh sweet Celestia! It’s pretty! Look at the colors ! Rarity would love this!” Pinkie wiggled a bit, reached into her mane and pulled out a camera and started taking pictures, “Say cheese, Applejack!”
Snap!
“Ugg… my eyes!” The Beast bemoaned. Hey! That sounded like Discord! “Pinkie Pie, please turn off the flash! It hurts my eyes. I’m blind!” There was a pause and sniffle. “Rip. Rest in peace, retinas. I’ll miss you.”
“Wait a damn minute.” Pinkie said, her eyes narrowed. “ You sound like…”
“Discord, you’re back!” A gentle voice interrupted Pinkie. A familiar yellow pegusis came swooping down from the balcony with the mane six’s cutiemarks on it.
“Fluttershy!” Applejack and Pinkie Pie cried in unison.
“Applejack, Pinkie, it’s so good to see you two!” Fluttershy smiled as she walked towards them. Discord dropped Applejack and Pinkie without ceremony and walked up to Fluttershy. He picked her up and started to snuggle her. Fluttershy smiled shyly. Applejack just shook her head as she got up from the floor. She was used to this sort of thing. Pinkie, on the other hoof, shot off like a rocket before she hit the ground, snapping pictures this way and that. To amazement of everypony, but not surprise, she was defying gravity while taking those pictures. But that was Pinkie for you. Chaos in pony form.
“So, Discord,” Applejack said with a tilt of her head, “what’s up with the lion-dragon look?”
“Trying something new/old. I used look like this but with three heads.” He drones with a flick of his wrist. “And I was adored. I was a god among mortals. I miss it. I miss my godhood, but I have been on the moral realm for to long. What? Why are you giving me that look?”
“What in tarnation are you talkin’ about, Discord?” Applejack asked. Discord just narrowed his eyes at her befuddled look. With a huff, he gently placed Fluttershy down and stomped up the stairs. His mismatch wings ruffled with annoyance. Which was a feat in of itself, with what one of his wings being a leathery dragon wing. But Discord did it.
“I’m going to see somepony who remembers the past.” Discord huffed, “At least he would appreciate my new/old look. A-duo.” Then he disappeared behind the blue crystal doors.
“What? I’m confused?” Applejack asked, “ Fluttershy, what in tarnation is he goin’ off bout? A godhood?”
“It’s a long story,” Fluttershy sighed, “I will tell you over a cup of tea.”
“You better. Can you make it apple cider?”
“Yes. Follow me please?” Fluttershy asked with a wave of her wing. “Pinkie, are you coming?”
“Ab-so-flutter-tivly!” Pinkie chirped from the ceiling. With a bounce, she back-flipped off the ceiling and landed with a skip. She caught up with the yellow pegusis and orange earth pony in two skips. Applejack just shook her head. Fluttershy smiled.
“Alright, sugar-cube, you better start talkin’.”
Ω
ΩSombraΩ
I stomped away from the white alicorn before I did something drastic. By Void, I want to devour her before she has the chance of doing something to Midnight. How does she know? Where did she get that information from? What about Luna? If I destroy Celdestria, then what would happen to Luna? Does she…
“Are you going to answer me?” Celdestria snapped after I stormed off after her question. Maybe if lose her she would forget about it? “No, bad Sombra, stop sweeping your troubles under the rug.” I thought with a grumble. “No matter how much you want to.”
“Are you even listening to me?!” The squawking voice battered my ears with her question.
“I cannot hear you over the smoke coming out of my ears,” I snarked back. Oh sweet Harmony, can she just leave me alone?
“I do not see any smoke anywhere, nor coming from your ears.” She said. She almost sounds proud of herself. I rolled my eyes. I think that I have rolled my eyes more around this alicorn I ever have in my entire life. “I believe that you are lying, First Born.”
“Have you ever heard of sarcasm?” I asked “Hyperbole? If not, you would not survive a minute with Midnight.”
“I have.” She said pretty haughtily. “And I can do it again. Midnight is an Ethereal. How are you going to protect her?”
“I am the First Born.” I growled through clenched teeth. “I am more than enough to protect an Ethereal. I am one! I am the first! The first Ethereal! I defeated Taurus before Farthingharth defeated Aquarius. Now shut up we’re camping here.”
“What?” Celestia squeaked.
“We are camping?” Luna bounced, “Sister, I have never been camping before.” She looked expecting at Celestia. Celestia’s eyes softened at the blue alicorn. She sighed and nodded. Luna squealed in delight. I smiled as I erected my barrier.
Celestia’s eyes widened as she looked upon my barrier. “You are an Ethereal.” She breathed. My lips thinned as I gently picked up the sleeping Midnight from my back. I slowly laid down and draped my wing over her. I closed my eyes in bliss. I could live like this forever with Midnight cuddling close to me.
“Are we going to find some food?” Celestia’s squawky voice interrupted my blissful moment.
“Go find it yourself,” I grumbled as pulled Midnight closer to my side. Ah sleep. Blissful sleep with cuddles. The best.
“What about Midnight?” Grrr….
“What about her?”
“What is she going to eat?” She whined.
“I will feed her when she wakes up, but for now I’m going to sleep.” I grumbled.
“But…”
“Sleep.”
“Sombra!”
“Sleep beautiful sleep. Under… the… stars… Good… night.” I grounded out. I heard a huff and stomping of angry hooves. I heard her grumbled.
“What was that?” I sat up. “What did you say?”
“Do you even care about your Kinku?” She snapped, “What about him?”
“Pierre,” I called. I heard leaves rustling above my head. When did he…
“Yes, my Lord,” Pierre chirped, “you called?”
“Yes, I did. I got a question,” I said, “actually two, I have two questions.”
“42.”
“What?”
“The answer to everything is 42.” He said sagely.
“Oooohhkeeyy?” I said, “Anyway… do you need any food? And how in Discord loving world did you get up there? I thought that Kinkus hated being in trees.”The trees giggled a foxy giggle in response. Pierre pop out of tree, hanging by his middle tail. The dang winged fox gave me a toothy smile with his arms cross. He was looking very smug hanging from the tree.
“It is the tallest point I see. So I must climb.” He did backflip and landed on the branch. Giggle burst out of the tiny Kinku as he gazed upon my bewildered look. “To answer your questions; yes, I have retained sustenance. This tree is the highest point in my sight, so I must climb! I do not like being in trees per say but it the highest point, so…”
“You must climb. Got it.” I interrupted, “Well good night.”
“Good night, my Lord,” I heard over the leaves rustle. I curled around my mate. My purr resonated deep within my chest. I am content. I am at peace. I am so tired. And I wish Celestia to stop glaring at me. Ugh… this was going a long night. Yeah right…
Ω
ΩMidnightΩ
I woke up to the sound leaves rustling. It was late into the night as I looked around trying find what made that noise. All I found was a snoring Sombra, a restless Celestia, a sleeping Pierre, and a sprawled out Luna. I guess every-pony was tired. Huh… So they definitely didn’t make the noise. Could be just the wind. As I thought this I did notice that there wasn’t any wind. Also I saw there was a red, black and silver shimmering dome around every-pony. It looked like my barrier that I had erected before, but it had red and was transparent.
“Well, ain’t that interesting,” I said with a frown. I gently pried Sombra’s leg and wing off of me as I got up to investigate. Slowly, ever so slowly, I crept towards swirling magic. I gently placed my hoof on the transparent wall and I felt it sing. The magic wrapped itself around my hoof. It felt as if it was worshiping my appendage. I know that it sounds strange but it genuinely felt like that. It was the most beautiful and amazing feeling in the world. It felt like a lover’s caress. I smiled as rubbed my hoof across the wall just to feel it more.
“The barrier is a literal extension of an Ethereal’s soul. So what you are feeling is the secret emotion of this particular Ethereal.” A soft lilting voice said. I smiled.
“Well hello there, Cat!” I said as I turned towards the Cat. Though it was weird because I heard it in my head. “How are you doing that?”
“Doing what, Ethereal?” The Cat smiled as it tilted its head. I swear that cat was laughing at me. I wonder what would happen if I try to pop its head off. “I would not do that if I were you. But I sure would love to see you try.”
“Wait! What?!” I shouted in surprise. “You read my mind? How?”
“Shh… be quiet!” They said as they put their paw to their mouth. “I do not wish to wake the First Buffoon. Or what the locals like to call him the First Born! It would be quite messy for me to teach you anything with him around. Now come I have something to show you.” The Cat then promptly turned around and started walking away.
“Wait!” I called as I raced after them. “You didn’t answer my question!”
“All will be answered in time, but for now move your tail!” Grr… Why are they so dang fast? Slow down why don’tcha? And surprisingly they did. I caught up to the speedy cat, not because I became faster. No, no, no. No, it was because the dang cat stopped and was snickering at me.
“You know it’s rude to laugh at somepony.” I huffed. The Cat tilted its head, giving me a befuddled look.
“Somepony? You use an interesting vernacular I must say.”
“It’s a new word,” I shrugged.
“Quite. Ethereal, you make me feel things that I do not understand. I believe that they are called emotions? It is quite strange. I normally do not “laugh” as you called it. That is a Demigod created thing. Well emotions are. And I am not a Demigod!”
“Of course you’re not,” I said confidently, “you’re a cat! A cat with magic!”
“You have no idea who I am, do you?”
“No clue.”
“Huh. Well I tire of this conversation. Let us be off. Take my paw, Ethereal.” The Cat said as they extended a paw towards me.
“Weeeellll that sure sounds ominous. Where are you taking me?” I asked cautiously. I stepped back a few steps. The Cat’s eyes narrowed at me.
“You do not trust me?”
“No I do not.”
“I am not going to murder you or harm you in any way. I am just going to teach you how to be an Ethereal and what your job is going to be. I will teach you the history and ethics of the Etherean way. So no need to worry your little head about it. Now take my paw.”
“Ugg… fine,” I said as I stomped to the Cat, “but if I die I’m hunting you for eternity.”
“Sure.” The Cat said as they rolled their eyes. I gingerly put my hoof in their paw. I was surprised at how small the Cat was. I could I could rest my chin top of their head!
“And I thought that I was short. Hehe.” I thought with a giggle. Their fur tickled my hoof as they slowly grasped it.
“Hold on tight, Ethereal,” they said with a smile. My ears popped as the terrain changed suddenly. I looked around to find myself in a field of glowing blue flowers. The night sky was the perfect backdrop to the glowing flowers. I smiled at the beautiful scene.
“This is beautiful!” I said in awe as I twirled. I bumped into something hared. “Ow! That’s smarts! What did I run into?”
“Me.” The Cat snickered. I looked up to see the Cat has grown to be tall as Celestia. Their arms were crossed and they had the swarm-ingest smirk I had ever seen. “What? Cat got your tongue?”
“Uhh… umm… uh… no?? Maybe??” I stammered. The Cat laughed and looked surprised by the fact that they had laughed.
“How did you do that?” They asked. They had the most befuddled look on their face. I kinda felt bad for them.
“How did I do what?”
“Make me laugh. Make me chuckle. How did you do it?” They asked. “This is most unusual. I ne… never mind we have more important things to take care of. Let us go.”
And then they were off, walking through the glowing flower fields towards an unknown destination. I ran to catch up with them.
“So where are we?” I asked when I finally caught up. “I have never been here before.”
“I suspect not. You have not been outside of the capital of Harmonia before. Though it baffles me that the capital is named after the continent. We are just outside of your hometown. Harmonia the capital.”
“What’s a continent?” I asked because I have never heard of that word before and I’m always up for learning more things. I might have read somewhere in my library. Even though it was hard for me to read, the library that Sombra gave me helped me learn more then I had before. It was the most expensive gift I had ever had. I want to go back to my library.
“Your thought process is certainly fascinating.”
“What?”
“We are here.”
“Uhh…” I was totally lost. We were still in the glowing field, so we didn’t change locations. I looked around trying to find what the dang cat was talking about. “What am I supposed to be looking at? I see nothing.”
"Well that is because my little reapers are doing their job. They are cloaked. Come here."
“Cloaked? As in they are wearing a cloak?” I was confused. It wasn’t even that cold. Kinda warm, actually. I wouldn’t wear a cloak in the warm time. Why would… The Cat’s chuckle snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Fascinating. Simply fascinating. Cloaking does not mean that they are wearing a cloak, though that is a thought. No, my Fascinating Ethereal, it means that they are able to become invisible. Able to go undetected to the untrained eye. I am about to train your eyes. The only time that a untrained eye can see them is when they are collecting the soul of the dead. Now come here.”
I walked over to the Cat, who was now my height. The Cat flashed me a smile that I think was supposed to be reassuring but it wasn’t. It didn’t have the emotion behind it. It was as if the Cat was just mirroring the emotion but didn’t really feel it. “How the heck did I know that?”
The Cat placed their paw right in between my eyes. “There all done.” They said with a smile, I noticed, never did reached their eyes. Their eyes were completely emotionless. I took a step back. They tilted their head in confusion.
“What is the matter?”
“Please don’t smile.” I whispered with my head down. The blue flowers twinkled the wind as I suddenly found them really interesting.
“Why?”
“If you don’t mean it, please don’t smile.” I said as I lifted my head. “I can’t be around anymore fake smiles.”
“Very well, I will abide by your request. I will no longer fake smiles. I was only displaying emotions for your benefit. I will endeavor to keep your request.”
“Thank you.” I sighed. The Cat just nodded as their face turned into an emotionless mask. Or was it their real face?
“Now, Ethereal, it is time for you to see what you are doing.” They said with deep emotionless voice that shook me to the bone. And I thought Pierre’s voice was deep. “Look.”
I turned to were they were pointing at. In the distance I saw two cats with purple cloaks bounding towards an unknown location. I suddenly felt like I was moving in a tube with my ears ringing. Pop. I blinked rapidly to clear my fuzzy vision. The cats were kneeling in front of me, whispering in the wind their mantra “o rex magne”. It reverberated all around me, over and over again.
“What are they saying?” I asked as edged closer to the taller Cat beside me. I really need to find out their name. Like yesterday.
“My reapers calling me the my Sovereign.” They gave me a side glance. “What? Did you think that they were bowing down to you?”
“No! Heck no!” I said, aghast. “Why would I think that?! I’m not worthy of anyponie’s praise. I was just wondering what they were saying.” The Cat just nodded. With a flick of their wrist, the Cat indicated for the reapers to rise.
“This is the newest Ethereal. You two are assigned to help her keep the rules.” The reapers clasped their right paw over their chest.
The reapers clasped their right paw over their chest. “Aye!” They shouted in unison. I stepped back a step. I shot a look at the Cat then back at the reapers. The reapers’ aquamarine eyes bore into my face. I started to feel uncomfortable and began to shuffle my hooves. Dang, their stares are intense.
“Is everything alright?” The Cat tilted their head to the side. I just nodded. No need to voice my feelings right now.
“Let us go.” The Cat directed me forward. They started to address the two reapers. “A soul is about to return home. Let us show our Ethereal how it is done. Forward.”
And we’re off. It felt like we walked for hours but could have been minutes. Before the monotony killed me, I heard a blood curdling scream. I whipped my head towards the sound. A bright pink Kinku was running. Her blood decorated the blue flowers as she hurled herself away from the danger she was running from. As she got closer, I noticed that part of her hide was missing. It was as if she was being skinned alive before she got away.
“Help!” She cried, “Somebeing help me! The alicorn is going to kill me!” I lurched forward to help, but I was stopped. The Cat had their paw on my shoulder.
“Why?! We got to help her!” I screamed, “if we don’t, she’s going to die!”
“I know”.
“You know?!”
“I do. It is her time in this life. When she gains her memories in her next life, she will have her vengeance. There will be no one to interfere. She will not be denied her vengeance.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Kinkus have a unique reincarnation system. There is a set amount of souls and there will never be anymore or any less. They are too powerful for the Balance. When this Kinku dies, surely she will, her soul will be given to a body that was just created. And when she turned her first fiftieth year, she will gain her memories.”
“She will die if we don’t help her!” I pleaded, but my plea fell on deaf ears. Their violet eyes was focused on the horizon. The Cat’s face was a mask of indifference.
“I know.”
“Please!”
“No.”
“If you won’t help her then let me!” I cried as I fell to my knees. I turned my head towards the Kinku. I noticed that one of her wings was missing.
“She cannot be saved, Ethereal. She lost to much blood. But only this time I will brake one of my rules for you.”
“How?”
“I will give the Kinku a peaceful death.” The Cat said. “Follow me.” And with that, they started walking in the direction of the Kinku. I ran to catch to their massive strides. I skidded to a stop when I head a screeching cackle. I whipped my head towards the horrible sound, hurting my neck in the process.
A green alicorn prancing in with a toothy grin. Blood dripped from the almost glowing green fur as it bared on the Kinku. Its cackling rang out across the field.
“Oh, how could you not consider this fun, foxy wings?” It asked, “I do. I really do find this little game we are playing quite fun.”
“Let me go!” She cried. She fell to the ground in a cloud of glowing blue petals. “Please just let me go! I have kits to care for!”
“Well if you tell me where the kits are, I could take care of them.” It smiled as it tilted its head to the side. Its glowing orange flashed with glee.
“I do not believe that you will.” The ground shook, knocking me and the alicorn to the ground. Its orange eyes widened in fear.
“Harmony have mercy.” It breathed.
“Harmony has no authority here.” The Cat whispered. Every word they spoke out loud made earth quack more and more. A great deep rumble sounded came from everywhere, causing the ground to ripple. Just like when I fought the lion monster that caused all this mess.
The alicorn screamed and took off with a flap of its wings. The rumble stopped. The land stilled and all was quiet once again. The Cat slowly turned around. I tilted my head up and scrambled back to see the Cat in their entirety. Some how, someway, the Cat grew tenfold. And their eyes! Oh, their eyes! It was as if the Cat’s eyes were a windows to the night sky. Millions and millions of stars captured inside those black orbs.
The Cat slowly blinked three times and their eyes changed back. In a flash of white light, the Cat appeared right next to me. They were now my height. What the…? How? Huh?
“Do not think much about it. It will only hurt your head.”
“Ahhh… got it.” I understand… somewhat… I think. “Fair enough.”
“Come.” The Cat started walking away. I scrambled to catch up. I huffed and puffed after I caught up. The dang Cat didn’t even have the decency to look exhausted. Stupid powerful being. I glared at the Cat as they crossed their arms.
“Glaring at my face will not do anything productive.” I just nodded and looked away.
“To keep my mind from melting, I have a question.”
“Oh? Pray tell, what is your question.”
“What is your name?” The Cat raised an eyebrow. “I mean I can’t keep calling you the Cat all the time.”
“Fair enough. I do not have a name.”
“You don’t?”
“I do not. I am who I am. I am the First and I am the Last. I am the Creator and Watcher of the souls. I am the space that is in between life and death and matter. I am the stars and the darkness between them. I am the Void.”
“Wait… Void, as in the first god Void. That Void?” I asked, my eyes widened at this revaluation. I’m with a god! I’ve been sassing a god?! Oh no…
“Is there any other Voids out there?”
“Ah no? I don’t think so? So do I call you Void or…”
“Giving a being a name means you are breaking it down to its basic essence to understand it.” The Cat said as they continue on their steady trek. “I have no name because no one can understand who and what I am. And to give me a name is to say that you understand what I am. Do you understand who I am?”
“N-no,” I stammered, “no I-I d-don’t.”
“Then, my Ethereal, I do not have a name.” My mind whorled at what I heard. Who knew that names were that powerful? What does that mean for me in the future? What can I do with this information? I need to talk to Sombra about this. He would know what to do. Yeah, he would.
“Unicorn, I implore you, please lend me your aid so that I may return to protect and nurture my brood.” A weak voice interrupted my thoughts and brought me back to reality.
“W-what? What did you say?” I asked. I walked forward. “I’m sorry but I can’t hear you.” The ground was wet and sticky. I pulled back and lifted my hoof to my face. It was covered in a black, sticky liquid. It had a coppery scent to it. I know this smell. I know this smell. I smelled this before! It was on me when they attacked me at the Main! Blood, BLOOD! Oh, sweet Harmony, there’s blood everywhere! I-I c-can’t go back. I-I won’t go b-back! D-don’t s-send me back! My heartbeat sounded like drum beating ever faster until it was all that I could hear.
A paw rested on my shoulder, instantly stilling my heart.
“Peace, my Ethereal, peace. Better?”
I nodded. The Cat nodded. They lifted their paw in the air.
“Reapers, to your job!”
The black reaper stepped forward and laid its paws on the dying Kinku. The Kinku started to panic and crying about how if she passes away her kits would not have a caretaker to provide for them. She pleaded and begged for the reaper to let her live, but the reaper shook its head. The reaper then pulled the Kinku’s head on to its lap.
“It will be alright,” it said, petting the distraught Kinku, “All is well. Your kits will be cared for by your peers. They will live a happy life. You will in your next life see them all grown up and thriving. You will have your vengeance on the one who did this to you. Peace, be at peace and know that your next life will be better.”
The Kinku’s eyes closed and a smile formed on her face as she breathed her last. A deep purple glow surrounded her body as the reaper lifted its paws up. The purple light followed the reaper’s paws, solidifying as it went. A multi-sided crystal with one of its sides colored blue formed in the air.
“What is that?” I asked as I moved closer to the crystal. A wave of absolute peace washed over me. All my worries dissipated in that moment.
“It is the culmination of the Kinku’s memories, emotions, hopes, fears, and everything they were. It is their soul crystal.”
“Soul crystal?”
“Yes, my Ethereal, a soul crystal. Every living being has one. That is what you are to protect. Whatever you do, do not touch it. For you are alive and will become possessed. And it is such a hassle to unpossess a living soul.”
“Oh…” I quickly moved my hoof. The black reaper just smiled, while the white one rolled its eyes. “What was that saying that you said earlier before the soul crystal came out?” The black reaper looked at the Cat. Its ears started twitching and its eyes was blinking rapidly as if it was in shock.
“I will answer your question. The little reaper would not be able to.”
“Why?”
“Because I do not allow my reapers to talk to mortals while they are alive.”
“Why?”
“Their voice, like mine, contains power. One word from them can change your reality.”
“Ahhh… got it.” I nodded sagely, still not getting. The Cat just narrowed their eyes.
“One thing that I want make clear, my Ethereal, before I explain what my reapers said. Free will before anything else.”
“Free will?”
“Free will is and always will be Harmony’s one rule. One of the reason why the alicorns run rapid. But it is her consequence to bear. Got it?” I nodded and smiled as I tried desperately to forget the smell of blood. No need to panic. Oh sweet Harmony, it stinks. I hate the coppery smell. My ears started to ring as the smell of blood penetrated my nose. The ringing grew louder and louder and louder. Black dots started to form at the edge of my sight.
“Peace, be at peace.” Everything went quiet. “Is one of the traditional phrase that I have my reapers say. Though my favorite. “Rest now and know that your next life will be better.” I feel that when I have my reapers that the souls, they will stop struggling and welcome the change I set upon them. I try to make their lives better in the next life, but it is up to them. Free will before anything else. That is what Harmony requested. Free will shall never be taken away. All souls must make their own choices and how they should live.
‘So I do. I let them make their own choices. Sometimes they make bad ones and sometimes they do not. It was your choice to face Pride and it was your choice to stay humble. You are at this point in your life because of your choices. I give you this information and show you these things so you have the knowledge and tools to make the right choices. I will not take away your freedom. That belongs to you. One last gift from Harmony. But now it is your job to help guide the reapers to the helpless souls. Help them to find my soul crystals and bring them back to me.
‘That is the job of an Ethereal. A being to guide and protect lost souls to their next life. Now, my Ethereal, it is time for you to go back to your companions. Please take my paw.”
So I did and in flash of light I was right back were I started. Sombra was snoring. Oh, I’m going to tease him about that. Hehe. The Cat started to walk away when I called out to them. They stopped and tilted their head towards me in a question.
“I have a question!”
“Do you not always. Ask away.”
“Why isn’t there any glitter when you teleport, Cat?” I asked, shuffling my hooves back and forth. They gave me a side-eyed glance and huffed. They crossed their arms while shaking their head.
“That is a Harmony thing, my Ethereal. It was a prank that became the norm. I find it utterly stupid. Harmony really do like her pranks. “
“Ahh… Cool.”
“Cool indeed. I bid you a good night. I must be off.”
“Bye!” I waved to the Cat as they walked through the barrier. I looked at my hoof to see that the blood was gone. It was completely cleaned. When did…? Yawn. By Harmony, I’m tired. I go straight to Sombra. I crawled under his wing and snuggled close to the snoring doofus. Sombra grumbled then pulled me closer. With the sounds of chirping insects and a snoring alicorn at my side, I fell into a dreamless sleep. One I’ve been needing for weeks.