There was never a harsher snowstorm than the one that struck Ponyville in the midst of the early afternoon.
It was one of those days where Fluttershy found her solace in her comfy, quaint cottage, sighing in deep satisfaction at the snuggly, slightly patched blanket she was draped under, her hooves crossed with her eyes closed in her simple yet luxurious sensation of relaxation, away from the snowball fights that used to happen around the frost-covered plains, though it seemed there was no activity of any sort since the announcement of the incoming blizzard.
Sure enough - her head turned towards the window - the winds whipped fiercely, the wooden doors of her shuttered windows slamming powerfully upstairs. The never-ceasing noise had forced her to move downstairs; one which she found it more comfortable with her mug of hot chocolate, the pleasant aroma of it tingling with warmth in her nostrils, and her pampered pet bunny, Angel, which slept soundly with his paws twitching incessantly in his slumber, all curled up in his cushioned basket along with his treasured few of half-eaten carrots at the side.
It was black as night outside, with the only proof of the afternoon being the slight cracks of light straining to break through the tough veil of gray clouds, to no avail. The usual serenity of snow now pelted furiously against her sturdy cottage like a barrage of pebbles, which sometimes made her wonder whether to admire nature or to fear it.
Sometimes - her heart lingered with pity at that - there would be a few unlucky wanderers fighting against the raging snow, their hooves trudging to the depths of white at their struggle to seek shelter. They would glance at her direction once or twice, but would soon ignore it, which only made her worry for them grow even more.
Her concern, as usual, reached to those of the woodland animals: a hoard of them had already settled around the living room. If awake, they were usually just gazing at the mare who kept them safe; if asleep, they would be curled up in the doll-sized blankets the yellow pegasus had prepared for them.
So much of life around her, yet, such irony, that she could only register the welcoming serenity of silence.
Oh well, she thought to herself. There's nothing better than this.
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
"Eep-!" she yipped immediately, her heart leaping out of the chest at the sudden fracture of silence, quickly darting behind the couch.
The animals around here immediately perked their heads up, glancing towards the wooden door with some already scurrying away from it. Fluttershy, being experienced with animals, immediately saw the fear flurrying throughout their pupils and from their nervous squeaks, though she tried her best to smile, emerging from behind the couch.
"It's alright," she spoke with the tenderness of a mother, though she herself was uncertain of it as well.
"I'm sure whoever it was isn't not going to hurt you guys."
With a swallowed lump of tension, she crept towards the windows at the side, trying her best to squint through the storm at the figure waiting patiently at the doorstep, trying not to gape in disbelief.
The pony was white; sheer, pale white without any trace of color, as if it had drained from his body. She wouldn't have known he was there if not for the queer, ragged soot-black cloak he was wearing, covering the majority of his face and mane with the exception of his pure white snout, which seemed to camouflage in the snowdrop background.
"Anypony home?" he called out, making the yellow pegasus cringe. His voice was deep, though it was smoother than ice, not to mention colder, than any of the voices she had heard before. Despite having not as a good memory as Pinkie Pie, she knew well enough that he wasn't a resident nor a regular visitor of Ponyville.
Maybe he's just lost, she told herself. Maybe he needs some shelter.
Out of instinct, her hoof reached for the knob, though it did not proceed without any resistance.
Immediately, she felt the soft paws of squirrels and rabbits pulling her back, with the birds nipping at her pink mane and wings. There were many times she would comply with their requests as such, though this time it seemed a little too much; he was a pony in dire need of warmth and shelter! It's only fair if she lets him in!
"Now, he's just a guest," Fluttershy said sternly to the animals swarming around her.
"He wouldn't hurt any of you, would he?"
Slowly, but surely, the animals slowly backed away, though their faces were still filled with denial.
With a sigh, she turned the knob, peering out of the small crack with the raging winds outside tossing her mane about. She tried not to shiver at his black pupils and his emotionless face, though with a muster of her courage, she asked:
"Um... do you want to... c-come in...?"
"I would love to," was the pony's reply, though there was still not a trace of emotion.
Opening the door wide, with some of the raging snow already blasting in, the pony brushed his hooves onto the 'Welcome' mat, appreciating its fine warmth. His cloak was still on, which only enticed her to ask:
"Do you... want to hang that on the rack? That is, if you don't... mind..."
"It's alright," he replied, his teeth slightly chattering, though she wasn't sure if it was from the cold outside.
"I appreciate your help."
Fluttershy beckoned him towards the couch, with the animals surrounding it immediately scurrying away in fear as he settled himself down onto it, only making the yellow pegasus look in bewilderment.
"Well..." she began, her hooves tucked together in uncertainty.
"Do you... um... need something to... drink?"
The pony just nodded, prompting her to rush towards the kitchen. Without a moment to spare, she quickly grabbed the kettle on the side, filling a porcelain teacup with its nourishing contents of fuzzy hot chocolate.
She smiled beatifically at her simple task, before heading out back with the cup in her hooves.
"Um... I got you a-"
Her voice was immediately cut off, her eyes widening at the sight before her.
There sat her guest; the same one, if she was not mistaken. His cloak and mantle was hanging on the rack, though her attention was grasped by the exposed visage of the pony, only making her gape in disbelief.
His face was a thorough color of white, as if a figure born of the hazard brewing outside, pure without any trace of taint. His translucent mane flourished in an ethereal, light-gray sparkle; a ghostly veil similar to the dew-covered gossamer of spider webs in the crack of dawn with his black eyes an endless, soulless swirl of darkness, which only froze her entire being.
His Cutie Mark, however, seems to resemble him most: a skull with two scythes crossed, the sickle-like blades peering out of its eyeholes, its teeth chattering in a wide, devious grin.
"Um... uh... I brought... you... um... I got some...*squeak*
The pony just raised an eyebrow, watching Fluttershy's face discoloring rapidly at her realization, her wings pent up with a tingle of fear, before managing to stammer:
"A-A-Are... Are y-you here to..."
"Nothing of that sort," the pony replied, before letting out a smile.
"Please," he beckoned warmly, as if it was his home.
"Have a seat."
With a shivering 'okay', the mare slowly strode to his side, the cup noticeably jiggling in her trembling hooves. She held it up towards her guest once she settled down, though the pony could only watch with amusement at the hot chocolate churning about inside, spilling out of the edges into the saucer.
"Thank you," he mused, giving his warm drink a sip.
"Nothing is more suitable than a balmy toast of chocolate during a cold night."
Fluttershy could only sit there in silence, her hairs tingling at the cold, menacing aura emanating from the pony, which only convinced her on his identity.
"Are you.... him?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
His suddenly chagrin, duplex tone only made her cringe, though it eventually faded as he smiled.
"Though I much preferred to be addressed by the name of Than."
"Oh... um... okay..."
Than took another sip of the warm chocolate, slurping his lips with satisfaction while he savored the sweetness of his warm drink. The mare before him could only watch in slight surprise and uncertainty, before the silence was broken by his somewhat tender voice:
"Your drink is exceptional, if I must say."
"Um... th-thank you, I guess..." she muttered, a blush forming on her cheeks at the compliment.
The pony blinked for a second, before laughing out loud at the pegasus, making her tense.
"Surely you wouldn't have thought that Death is such a peachy little fellow, eh?"
"N-Not really..." Fluttershy spoke hesitantly.
"I th-thought Death would be... you know... colder?"
"Depends on my methods, actually."
With a customary polish of his hooves, he trotted across the room, with the animals before his hooves scampering away in fear, the majority now ducking underneath her yellow wings.
"Ponies fear my presence in the world, yet none had the power to hinder my efforts. Some inflicted death upon themselves, some a sudden one unfortunately, but most passed on in peace and serenity."
He gave a gentle cough, before gazing at the yellow pegasus before her.
"So, tell me," Than began with a grin.
"What do you see me as?"
"Um... I'm not sure if..."
"It's alright."
His gentle smile stirred her confidence, before he added:
"Words wouldn't change a pony's ways that easily, after all."
"Well..." she looked at him, biting his lip. "If you insist..."
With a loud gulp of her breath, she spoke:
"You have a weird accent that only shows how cold you are; enough to scare those little fillies in bed, your mane's a little too ghostly to be in this house, though it would very much be great as a curtain, your cloak is a little bit dusty that I could already sneeze off the dust from it. You really need to do something with those eyes of yours because nopony would even dare to look into those... black holes and in my opinion, my friend Rarity can think of something to fix that, plus you don't really have a scythe, so it doesn't really make you seem like you're death to me."
As soon as she finished with a smile, she noticed Than's stilled expression of skepticism, before her eyes widened.
"Oh... my..." she muttered, cringing on the spot.
"Did I... insult you...too much..."
"Well, I would definitely say that was pretty interesting."
"So... you don't mind?"
"Not really, no," he surmised.
"But nopony would've expected such a lengthy comment as yours."
"O-Okay..." she squeaked, shirking back into her seat.
"For a deity like me, it seems this is expected of the living."
Fluttershy's ears perked up as he sighed, watching the stallion as he strode towards the window, glancing ahead in the bizarre barrage of snow outside.
"When ponies talk of Death - me, to be accurate - they always seem fearful of it. All those legends and stories of how the cloaked pony with a scythe would suddenly steal the life of many in their sleep, though most usually stop these talks there. They never mentioned of what happens to these souls after they're reaped; the eternal emotion of peace and calming, in the world where there is but the relief of the strains of the living."
Another sigh escaped from Than, before the yellow pegasus asked:
"You've... been to the... Beyond before?"
"Funny thing, really," he suddenly chuckled.
"Not only ponies, but dragons, griffons, minotaurs and even the woodland animals call it the Beyond, albeit each in their language. To answer your question, well... I had to release the souls to somewhere proper, don't I?"
Fluttershy pondered for a moment at his words, before asking again:
"How is it... the... Beyond... if you don't mind me asking...?"
"The 'Beyond', as your living folk phrased it... you could call it a hall of mirrors."
Than gave her a smile, before slowly guiding the both of them towards the pegasus's own vanity nightstand, the two now glancing at their reflections.
"Mirrors reflect what you've done. Same goes for the Beyond: the world sees your deeds, and the sanctity will decide on the two lands it had prepared since the early ages of time. Living ponies call these worlds Heaven and Hell, the latter usually known as Tartarus, though there is one small special spot."
"R-Really?"
"The world betwixt, meaning the world between or, you could say, your world."
With a sip of the chocolate, the stallion beckoned Fluttershy back to her reflection, continuing his explanation:
"Sometimes, some souls were sent back to this world; the cause of unfinished business when the soul was alive. In rare moments, the living can see these souls, calling them ghosts, poltergeists, apparitions or wisps, as such. Many of these souls were sent back to the Beyond for judgement once their job was done; in life we call it purgatory."
"Wow..." was all the pegasus could say, utterly mesmerized by his words.
"So... did you meet anypony... I know there?"
"A few, though I preferred this to be a secret."
"Al-alright, then."
"I, for one, find the living world more... appealing."
With a polite cough, Than trotted back to the couch, settling himself down as he continued sipping his chocolate, with Fluttershy just looking at him in surprise, making him chuckle.
"You might be curious: how can Death incarnate have more interest in life than in his career, eh?"
There was a nod from the pegasus, prompting him to explain:
"Well, pure jealousy is what it is, really. All these ponies, their stumbles and recoveries, their problems and satisfactions... an interesting cycle of it. Queer that many of the living study of the meaning of Life and Death whilst we, as their beholders, are more interested in the works of yours."
"Wait," she interrupted.
"You mentioned 'we'?"
"Ah! Of course."
Clearing his throat, he gave his explanation:
"Many do not know of Life. Yes, many did speak of Death; oh, how his actions are so frightening or oh, how sneaky he is, but most, if not all, do not realize of the incarnate of Life. I could say she usually envied the unwanted attention I was getting."
"She? You mean Life... is a mare?"
"Direct opposite of me, though our personalities are, queerly, the only similarity we have."
Settling the cup back on the saucer, Than sighed dreamily, giggling suddenly like a school mare.
"Like me, she was known by a name, though I always admired her first choice: Vivienne."
"V-Vivienne?"
"She loved Viveca more though," he whined suddenly, with Fluttershy only staring in slight puzzlement.
"Always shot me a glare every time I called her Vivienne, saying she wants something as... how does she put it? Intricate? As mine. Hard to have a mare like her, but worth every inch of my be-damned soul."
"So you guys..." the yellow pegasus began, curiosity beckoning her continue:
"Like... like each other?"
"More like husband and wife really."
Than laughed as Fluttershy's jaw dropped the moment he finished his sentence, nearly dropping his cup of hot chocolate, which jiggled as his hoof convulsed along with his laughter.
"Hard to perceive, eh?" he said once he finished.
"Life and Death, living together happily ever after under one roof. It seems the theory of 'opposites attract' even applies to us deities, though we didn't have any crazy procession or parade like that, just a silent exchange of vows. I had to make the first move, though; spent all week making a ring out of her favorite sapphire daffodils."
The pegasus smiled warmly at that.
"That's so sweet of you."
"I guess," he said with a laugh, scratching his head sheepishly.
"Though don't spread the word of our secret marriage. She'll make sure I'll retrieve my own darn soul if she finds out that I've told you, even more so if she finds out I'm talking to another mare. Her jealousy is astounding; an equal to, admittedly, my own."
"A-Alright then... if you, um, insist"
"Speaking of which, how about you?"
Than's question made her perk up in surprise, her face starting to pale, though the stallion himself never seemed to notice it, instead continuing:
"How's life been to you so far?"
"Uh... um..." the mare began nervously, even more so at his curious stare.
"I... me? Well..."
"I'm sure your life must've been an interesting ride now, wouldn't it?"
With a gulp, Fluttershy opened her mouth, letting out an inaudible mutter.
"F..."
"Pardon?"
The white stallion perked his ears, leaning closer towards the pegasus.
"I didn't seem to catch what you've said."
"F-Fe..."
Than just watched as she shrunk back, cringing into the couch. Angel quickly hopped to the side of his owner, his crossed paws thumping against his with his stare fixated onto the white stallion in annoyance.
"What?" he could only say.
"It's f-fine..." Fluttershy managed to squeak out.
The stallion just looked at her, slightly perplexed.
"Something wrong with you?"
"No.. it's just..."
With a loud, defeated sigh, she continued her sentence, clutching tightly onto her pet rabbit's paw for comfort.
"I'm not really comfortable talking about myself, actually."
"Not really expecting that."
His reply made Fluttershy look up in surprise, the stallion now stretching back his hooves, the audible sound of cracking and rattling of bones throughout the room only reminding her of his existence as the Grim Reaper.
"I mean, you seem like a courageous pony, and I do mean one of the most courageous I know."
"R-Really...?"
"My presence in your abode already says it all. Think about it."
Finishing the last few drops of his hot chocolate with an 'aah' of pleasure, he glanced out at the hazardous snowstorm, which still brewed strongly in its futile attempts to burst through the windows.
"Most ponies wouldn't resolve to invite a stranger, especially the embodiment of Death, into their homes like that, yet you did, and you did it out of a simple offer of kindness. When other ponies see a lurking shadow, ready to take their life at the instant swirl of my cloak, you see me merely as an unfortunate, wandering stranger, trying to battle out the cold. Even when all these animals resisted you, you still opened the door. Even if you had the slightest hint of who I was, you never chased me out."
Fluttershy just watched him as he continued, though she could feel her cheeks slightly tingling with a blush.
"Most ponies have bravery, but no courage. You're brave if you could face something other ponies feared, but you're courageous if you faced what you've feared. You invited the being that inspired fear in all of ponykind into your household, even commenting on my appearance and such, which I'm still a little hurt at that."
"Oh! Um..."
Than chuckled at the pegasus's attempt to grasp her voice, his hoof waving dismissively.
"It's but a mere joke. Don't worry too much about it."
"O-Okay..." she muttered, her wings rustling slightly with relief.
"Well, seems you really are a shy mare."
The stallion plowed through her cupboard, much to Fluttershy's annoyance, though she didn't show any resistance. His hoof searched around the various assortments of items, judging from the sound of clangs and clatters from within, before finally grabbing out a pouch.
The yellow pegasus watched as he stuck his hoof in, the faded sunflower emblem on the woven surface bulging at his attempts to dig inside. It wasn't long before Than eased his hoof out again, now clutching on dozens of sunflower seeds.
"Pretend these seeds are all figments of life; brought into the world by Vivienne's hoof. And let me tell you that her hoof is just wonderfully gentle when she bears the spirits of the world. Her art in weaving the fragments of life... purely unbelievable, I tell you-"
"Ahem," Fluttershy coughed, crossing her hooves.
"I'm s-sorry to interrupt you... but you were saying something about the seeds?"
"Right! Of course! The... uh, seeds! Haha," he exclaimed with a sheepish grin.
"Anyway, these seeds all root into the ground and grow, much like how time and life works. Give it time and, like a seed, the life will sprout, emerging with many others into the world that had prepared it. All these seeds in my hoof: they represent life in its most infant form."
With a grunt, Than suddenly swung his hoof into the air, the sunflower seeds in it launched like a catapult, scattering all over the floor. In no time at all, the animals dwelling around them started to scurry towards it from around their hooves, their tails sweeping against the skin of the two ponies.
Fluttershy turned towards the stallion, watching his face light up with a beatific smile. She could tell he was astounded by the lively swarm, before he let out a long sigh.
"All this life..." he mused.
"If all ponies were to see what I see..."
"W-What's wrong?" she asked reluctantly.
"I'm... um, sure everypony would appreciate, well, their life, wouldn't they?"
"Appreciating their life is one thing. Of another's life is different altogether"
Than watched the animals along with her as the critters happily chewed on the seeds, the two ponies smiling at the sight. It was only a while until the pegasus realized what he meant, as the stallion himself continued:
"We sometimes see life being struck towards the edge, yet most would only turn their heads aside. Ponies have been brought into the world anew, yet never saw the beauty right before their eyes."
Fluttershy nodded understandingly as he continued:
"Journeying through the snowstorm had been harsh, I'll have to admit. Would you believe that I've actually knocked on the doors of about eight similar cottages before reaching yours?"
"R-Really?"
"The owners knew who I was," he said with a grimace.
"They bothered more of their paranoia instead of their... innocent sanity, you can call it. I would've severed their lifeline on the spot, but it's pretty much against the rules."
"But you're here now, right?"
Than smiled at the pegasus's words, glancing at the snowstorm outside.
"Seems that part would be true. And for that, I thank you."
"Oh... um... it's o-okay..." Fluttershy stammered with a grin, the stallion laughing as she stumbled on her words she was planning to say.
"It's n-nothing, really..."
"Humble and kind," he surmised, his smile widening.
"Anypony would be lucky to have a friend like you."
With a sigh, Than suddenly stood up from his couch, heading towards the coat rack to retrieve his cloak and mantle. Fluttershy watched in bewilderment at his actions, her question stopping him at the door.
"You're leaving already?"
"Have to. Still got duties to perform."
With a wriggle into his cloak, his hooves careful not to thread onto the black cloth, he shook his glittery mane a little, gazing back at the pegasus.
"I'll remember this day, Miss. The day you've extended your kindness to me. In return, I'll only come back when you're ready to go, alright?"
"R-Really?" Fluttershy exclaimed in disbelief.
"It's a promise," Than answered with a wink.
"There won't be any sudden... visits, and I'm sure you won't do anything crazy after a talk like that. Remember, Miss: cherish your life and make other lives, be it pony, dragon or even a squirrel, worthwhile. I'm sure you can start with your friends right now, don't you my courageous friend?"
"Um... if you insist..."
The stallion managed to laugh at her reply, the door creaking open to reveal the turbulent rain of snow crashing outside, though it had seemed to have subsided a little: there were already a few rays of sunlight that had managed to pierce the veil of gray clouds.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" he suddenly exclaimed.
"Name please."
"I'm... Fl-Fluttershy."
"Fluttershy..." he pondered at the moment, reminding of Twilight when she was thinking over of what to do, the queer similarity of it making her smile.
"Got it."
"Oh, if you don't mind me asking..." the pegasus began, catching the attention of the stallion.
"What of my friends...?"
"Well, it's hard to say..."
Than kicked his hooves back, his mane fluttering in the wind, though he started to smile after a moment of deep thinking, his reply relieving the mare immediately.
"I assure you, they would live a long life as well."
"Th-thank you..." she muttered gleefully, her heart pumping with exhilaration at his decision.
"No," the stallion said, giving her a wry smirk, stepping back into the obscurity of the snow, the sight only making the yellow pegasus widen her eyes in panic.
"Thank you."
"W-wait a minute!" she cried, galloping after him despite the animals around her trying in vain to pull her back.
She quickly stumbled out of the door, though the moment she did that, the rapid snowfall suddenly came to a standstill, the wind tossing her mane about like a pink tidal wave receding immediately. She held back her surprise at her abruptly-cleared vision, now facing the snow-blanketed meadow, with the town of Ponyville standing in the distance.
The gray skies were torn apart with radiant streaks of light, enveloping the world below in a mellow bask of sunshine. All at once, the animals from her cottage started to scurry out in merriment, though the mare could only look ahead.
Angel hopped to her side with a twitch of his nose, as if asking if her encounter with Than actually happened. Fluttershy just looked at him, still a little dazed at the sudden change of weather, before smiling widely.
With an earnest sigh, she trotted back into her cottage, her pet bunny following behind in queer obedience. The yellow pegasus headed to her window, glancing at the now-clear skies before her.
Her mug of chocolate still simmered at the windowsill, the mare giving it a small sip, the invigorating taste nourishing into her hooves. Angel just sat beside her, glancing up at his owner as she smiled.
"Than..." she muttered, grinning at herself.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Finishing the contents of the chocolate, she quickly got up, heading towards the living room.
Her attention was taken by the porcelain teacup on the center of the table; the only reminder of Death's surprising yet memorable visit to her cottage. She could only smile warmly, picking it up as she headed into her kitchen.
I've learned that we have to cherish not only our lives, but other pony's lives as well. Sometimes they could leave us in an instant, and that's the time when we feel lost. In friendship, we can make each other's lives happier and memorable, so that we wouldn't worry what the future would bring upon us. If the time comes that one of us has to leave, we would be sad for the pony's departure, yet happy at all the moments he or she could provide us in our life.
Her hoof trudged onto the texture of woven straw, the mare looking down with slight curiosity. Fluttershy immediately bend towards the floor, picking the pouch up.
She immediately smiled at the faded sunflower logo patched onto the surface, before continuing her journey towards the kitchen, humming a small tune along the way.
I've also learned that sometimes helping others would require great risks or sacrifices, but sometimes, in the bonds of friendship, these risks and sacrifices have to be made. In the end, the results from our risks would be worthwhile, and sometimes we make new friends in the process...
Finally reaching her destination, she opened one of her cupboards, trying not to cough at the dust before her.
Without hesitation, she placed the pouch and the teacup inside, her heart tingling with warmth at the display; the exhibition of her achievement, as Than had effortlessly put it, the thought of it making her smile.
Her courage.
New and unlikely friends...
Yours faithfully,
Fluttershy.