Lying at the bottom of the ocean was a blue unicorn mare. Her hoof was caught under a rock and her body was lifelessly floating in the water. A pink white robed pony walked to the body with ease. She reached into the body and pulled out a translucent version of the mare’s body. She set it down with a smile on her face.
“Wakey wakey,” she said with a high pitched voice. “You have something important to do.” The blue translucent mare slowly opened her eyes. She stood up and stretched herself.
“Thank Celestia, I’m saved,” she said. “Thanks for the save Jetsam. I thought I was gonna be a goner.” She looked at her surroundings. After blinking in confusion, she held her breath.
“You’re not going to need to do that,” the pink pony said. “You’re dead.”
“What?!” the mare screamed. The pink pony pointed to the body. She turned to it. “Ah. I see. Is there still hope for being saved?” The pink pony shook her head. The blue mare’s ears flattened against her head.
“Damn. There were so many things I wanted to do,” she said.
“If dying at the bottom of the ocean was one of them, I think you can check that off your bucket list,” the robbed pony said. The blue mare took a closer look at the robbed pony. She was wearing a white robe with a golden trim on it. A hood was over her head and barely covered a dark pink poofy mane. Her eyes were a sparkling shade of light blue. The blue mare’s eyes widened.
“You’re… you’re…”
“Pinkamenia Diane Pie, at your service,” Pinkie made a slight bow. “But hey, I just met you, and this is crazy. And friends call me Pinkie, so call me that maybe?” The blue mare stared at the pink pony. After a few moments she broke out into laughter.
“Wow,” she said. “I didn’t think that Death would make such a cheesy joke.” She held out a hoof.
“I’m Ebb N. Flow, professor of marine biology at Manehattan University.” Pinkie shook her hoof.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Pinkie pushed her hood back. “But I’m not Death with a capital ‘D’. I’m a death, not the Death.”
“Wait… Pinkie Pie,” Ebb’s eyes widened in realization. “You were one of my grandmother’s friends!”
“That’s right,” Pinkie shuffled her hooves. “Speaking of your grandmother, how is she?”
“I can’t exactly tell you,” Ebb said. “I’ve been out on the ocean for the past few months doing field research. I haven’t seen her since I left.” Pinkie gestured Ebb to follow her.
“Then tell me how she was when you last saw her.”
“The same as every other grandmother I guess,” Ebb shrugged. “She’s caring, knowledgeable, and has all this wisdom to share.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“She often talks about you,” Pinkie stopped in her place.
“She does?” Ebb nodded. “What does she say?”
“She told me that you made life brighter. She said that you brought happiness to everypony you met. That there was a hidden genius underneath all the supposed madness. And that she tried her best to emulate that since she looked up to you.” A small smile appeared on Pinkie’s face.
“Strange,” she said. “I looked up to Twilight. She’s knowledgeable, wise, caring, compassionate, and from what I remember, she’s a fox.”
“Ewww!” Ebb yelled. “I did not want to think about my grandmother that way. Now that image is stuck in my skull. Thanks a lot!”
“You’re welcome, come on. We have to go.” Pinkie took a few steps forward. Ebb was staring at her body with sadness in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Pinkie asked.
“I just thought that I would have more time,” Ebb sighed. “I thought my life would be longer. And my loved ones are going to hurt. I feel bad for causing that hurt.”
“There’s one thing that I’ve learned doing this job,” Pinkie said.
“And what would that be?” Pinkie cleared her throat.
“Nothing lasts,” she sang. “Life goes on, full of surprises.”
“What are you…” a pink hoof pushed itself against Ebb’s nose.
“You’ll be faced with problems, of all shapes and sizes! You’re going to have to make a few compromises… for now.” Pinkie hopped down the empty void of the ocean. Ebb chased after the singing pony.
“For now we’re healthy,” she continued singing. “For now we’re employed. For now we’re happy, if not overjoyed.” A strange feeling bubbled inside of Ebb’s body. For some strange reason, a smile grew on her face.
“And we’ll accept the things we cannot avoid,” she sang. Pinkie’s smile grew. “For now.”
“But only for now!” they sang. “For now there’s love! Only for now! For now there’s work! For now there’s happiness!” Pinkie stopped at a mahogany door. Her smile was still on her face as Ebb caught up to her.
“Each time you smile,” she sang.
“It’ll only last a while,” Ebb continued.
“Life may be scary.”
“But it’s only temporary,” they sang together. An invisible chorus sang a tune with them. The door opened and a white light spilled from it.
“Everything in life, is only for now,” Pinkie finished singing. “I’ve learned that everything is temporary. And when I say everything, I mean everything. Food, wealth, houses, they all have a time limit. That includes emotions as well. We’re happy for a few moments, sad the next, and it’s then topped with misery. But like life, it’s only temporary. If you’re worried about your friends and family hurting, just remember that the pain will go away. And that it is never your fault.”
“Thanks Pinkie,” Ebb looked at the white light coming from the doorway. “What’s on the other side anyways?”
“I dunno,” Pinkie replied. “I’m not allowed on the other side. My job is just to guide ponies to their doorway.”
“I see,” Ebb again held out a hoof. “It was a pleasure meeting you Pinkie. I hope that we can meet again.” Pinkie shook it with a smile on her face.
“We will, I just don’t know when,” Pinkie let go. “Farewell Ebb N. Flow. I’ll see you on the other side.” Ebb walked past the threshold of the door and it closed. Pinkie turned around and began walking as it turned to sparkling dust. She put her hood over her head. Now then, back to work.