//------------------------------// // Help Wanted: Pony to Collect Souls // Story: A Pony Called Death // by thehalfelf //------------------------------// Help Wanted: Pony to Collect Souls     The fire raged, smoke billowing up towards the heavens, tongues of flame snapping and cracking as they consumed the old wood of the building.  Screams and cries were heard, both from inside and out, as ponies rushed to get help, or rushed to get out.  But one pony walked against the current.  This pony walked right into the depths of the flame, and out, unscathed.     He slowly walked up to the fourth floor of the old apartment building turned inferno, caring not for ponies rushing past or fire dancing up to meet him.  A cloak was drawn around him, shielding him from the heat of the fire, and the lack of oxygen, but never coming alight itself.  Finally finding what he was looking for, he lightly pushed on a door, the once-stuck slab of wood yielding to a higher power.     The cloaked pony walked over to a foal lying limp on the ground, coat on fire.  He kneeled down, simultaneously reaching into his cloak with his magic aura to pull out a scythe, one very much unlike any ever seen by any farmer.  He reached out with it, gently tapping the tip of the stock to the poor colt’s head, and pulled it away.  As the scythe pulled away the colt collapsed, dead.     Stowing his implement of relief, the pony walked out of the door, unnoticed by any of the inhabitants or rescue ponies on scene to quell the flames. *****     The stallion walked up to the grand gate of Canterlot Castle, shedding his cloak as he did so.  The cloak folded into itself, and disappeared, though he knew he could call it at will.  His black coat and gray mane rendered him almost invisible in the night, though not to the well trained eyes of the Royal Guard on duty that evening.         “Halt!  Who goes there?” one called, causing his companion to turn towards the newcomer.         The mysterious stallion turned towards the guard, who blanched at his face.       “H-Hello Mortis.  Enter please, Princess Luna awaits you in the Lunar Court.”  The guard bowed, both out of respect, and to avoid the face of fear itself.     Mortis walked ahead, past the two guards to their visible relief, and entered the castle proper.  He weaved through the passages, all exchanges with ponies met going almost exactly the same way: averted eyes and frightened glances.  At last he arrived at his destination, pushing the doors open with impunity.     “HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT THE COURT OF THE NIGHT.  GUARDS SEIZE HIM!”  A voice, obviously Luna’s, rang from the far side of the hall.         “I think not, O Guardian of the Night,” Mortis said, his voice strong with a known authority.     “Oh, good evening, Mortis.  I thank that you came, but if you would please wait until I am through here.  You know the way.”  With that, she turned back to whomever she was speaking to before.  “So, as I was saying, the only true way to prevent another war would be to--” but Mortis did not hear the rest.  He left the hall, and proceeded to the highest point in the North tower, the chambers of Princess Luna.     The Night Guard bowed to him, and did not shy away at his presence.  “Mortis,” they acknowledged, opening the door for him.  He stepped inside the star-themed chamber and took a seat, awaiting the Princess.     Soon, she walked into the room.  Stars floating around the top of the dome burned brighter in her presence.  “What business do you have of me, bringer of death?”  she asked, taking a seat across from the unicorn.     Mortis sighed, lying his semblance of office across a table to the side, “I grow weary of my duty, Keeper of Darkness.  I yearn to return to my life as a mortal, to cast aside this depressing business.”         Luna looked saddened.  “Dashing Cloud, you have kept this job for nearly two centuries, everypony you know is dead.”     He flinched, anger crossing his features.  “I know, I am the one who collected some of them.  It hurts to live knowing they do not, but it hurts more to see more ponies die whom I cannot save.  I lack the heart this job requires, and I cannot help but think that somepony else could fill the Death cloak better than I these days.”     Luna sighed.  “As you wish, as you know we won’t--can’t--force you to keep this job if you don’t want it.”  She walked over to a shelf, pulling out an aged scroll.  Unrolling it over the Scythe, she ran a hoof down the names.  “As your last assignment, then, take the Offer before one named Rose Petal, in Ponyville.  You must keep the office until you pass it on.”         Mortis stood, stowing the scythe across his back.  “As you will, Princess.”     As he walked out the door, Luna called to him.  “And Cloud?”  He turned back.  “If she really does accept the job, come visit Tia and I.  We do enjoy your company, and I imagine you will be needing a new job.”     Death grinned.  “Of course, m’lady.”  He walked into, and through, a wall, appearing outside of an odd tree-structure on the main street of Ponyville.     “Now, to find this Rose Petal...”  Mortis walked, through the dark of night to where his Instinct told him Rose Petal could be found on the morrow.  Finding the proper store, he sat down to wait. *****     Rose Petal walked down Mane Street, light pink mane curling around her face, bobbing in time with her lively steps.  She slowed as she neared the flower shop, not seeing the pony garbed in black outside the door.  She cheerfully walked in the door, closing it behind her before she sat about the business of getting everything ready.     After the eternity it took to water all the flowers, and put out replacements to those that had been sold, she walked back around front and flipped the sign to open.  Almost immediately after she stepped back behind the counter, a small bell chimed, signaling the arrival of a customer.     “Hello, and welcome to the Flower Sister Flower Shop.  My name is Rose Petal, how may I help you?”  She beamed, looking over the counter at the golden pegasus standing on the other side.  He looked confused, staring off into space for a moment before snapping back to himself.     “Hello,” he said in a deep confident voice, “my name is Dashing Cloud.  I need to speak with you.  Is there some way we could speak in private...?”         Naturally, Rose was skeptical.  “What about?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow.     “Let’s just say it is a job from Princess Luna herself, if you want it.”  Dashing Cloud put on his best trustworthy smile, hoping that the filly would trust him.  It wasn’t like this was the New Griffon Republic, most ponies weren’t bad in Equestria.         “Well--”  Rose was about to respond when the door dinged once again.         A pink earth pony with a flower in her golden mane.  “Hey there, Rosey, hows it shakin’?”         Rose Petal beamed.  “Aunty Lily! I didn’t know you were coming in today.”     She sauntered back behind the counter, and bopped her niece on the muzzle.  “I didn’t plan on it, traded with Daisy because she is going flower hunting with Fluttershy or something, so here I am!”  She mock saluted the younger mare.  “Reporting for duty. ma’am!”         The white pony giggled.  “Well, actually I kind of need to talk to this pony here, so can you take over for a minute?”         “Sure, no probs,” she traded spots with the other earth pony, and looked around.  “But...uh... what pony?”         “The one by the counter...?”  Rose gestured to the gold pegasus.     Lilly shrugged.  “Ooook filly, whatever you say.  I’ll hold down the fort for a bit, but if your mom comes here and you aren’t working, I’m not gonna take the fire, know what I mean?”         That made the earth pony smile.  “Jeez Lily, I moved out years ago.  It’s not like she is gonna ground me or something.”     “I really wouldn’t put it past Roseluck, but whatever, your life.  Now get filly, I’ve got this handled.”  Lily shook her head as her niece walked into the back room.  She moved out but still has imaginary friends...?  Her train of thoughts were interrupted by another pony walking through the door.  “Hiya, and welcome to the Flower Sister Flower Shop.  I’m Lily Valley, the one and only, how can I help ya?” *****     Rose Petal shut the door as Dashing Cloud walked into the back room of the flower shop.  It was a combination of the office and the break room, a big overstuffed couch jutted against the desk holding the ledgers.     “Now I’m warning you,” Rose started, somewhat jokingly, “try any funny stuff, and I’ll lay you down big guy.  So what did you want to talk to me about?”     Cloud grinned.  “Don’t worry, no funny stuff, Luna would hang me.  Look, this is going to sound strange to you.  I occupy a very unique position within the Equestrian government, and it’s about time for me to move on.  Princess Luna recommended you as my replacement.”         Rose’s jaw practically hit the floor.  “The Princess of the Night hoof-picked me for a job in the government?”  She burst out laughing.  “That’s a good one.  There is no way one of the Princesses even knows me, let alone thinks I can work for them.  I’m a flower salespony, what could I possibly do for the most powerful ponies on the planet?”     Dashing Cloud took a deep breath.  “I want you to promise right now you will hear me through, beginning to end.”  Once Rose had nodded, he continued.  “Ok, so, remember how your aunt Lily couldn’t see me?”         She nodded again.         “That is because I am technically not a mortal pony--”  Cloud began.         “Wait... What do you mean, not a mortal pony?”  Rose asked, eyebrow raised.     “Look, if you are going to interrupt me with questions, this is going to take much longer.  Now, I am a mortal pony, just in an immortal office.  I am Death.”  Cloud paused, waiting for a reaction.  When none was forthcoming, he poked her muzzle.         She jumped back, shaking her head.  “What was that for?”     Cloud let loose a bubbling laugh that grew louder and louder until Rose bopped him on the muzzle.  “Ow!  That was really uncalled for...  Anyway, I am Death, called Mortis while in uniform.  Princess Luna sends me to take the souls of ponies who die before their time, so they may be given a second chance.”         “Right...”  Rose looked skeptical.  “So, what is her job for me then...Mortis?”     “I have been in this office for almost two centuries now.  I just don’t have what it takes to do this job anymore.  But before I can return to normal life, I have to train a replacement.”         Revelation dawned across Rose Petal’s face.  “You mean...”         Dashing Cloud nodded.  “Yes.  Luna has chosen you to replace me as Death.”         “What!?” The white earth pony screeched. “But-- I-- How--”  The stuttering probably would have continued for a long time, but Cloud moved forward, planting a hoof in front of her mouth.  A little friendly for two strangers, but effective.     The door to the office opened, allowing a cream pony with a red and pink mane to walk in.  “What in Celestia’s name is going on in here?”         Rose Petal jumped back by her mom, pointing a hoof at the pegasus.  “That pony there, he just--”         Roseluck cocked an eyebrow at her daughter.  “What pony?”     The younger mare stared at her mother in disbelief.  “How can you not...” she stopped, turning her attention instead to the invisible pony.  “Make yourself visible.”         “Ah, I don’t think that is such a good--”  Cloud started, heard only by Rose Petal.         “Now.”     “Rose,” Roseluck begun, “are you feeling ok hun?  Most ponies don’t talk to nothing... do you need to go see Nurse-- OH SWEET CELESTIA WHO ARE YOU?!  WHAT ARE YOU?!”  Dashing Cloud stood in the middle of the room, where nopony was before.         He bowed.  “Hello, miss.  My name is--”     “I DON’T BUCKING CARE WHO YOU ARE!  HOW DID YOU GET HERE AND WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER!?”  Cloud had a hard time telling whether she was just concerned for Rose Petal, or just freaking out.         Probably a combination of the two.     “If you would let me finish...” his voice took on an aspect of his office, causing the mortal ponies to give him their undivided attention.  After all, it was hard to argue with the face of Death  “Miss Roseluck, my name is Dashing Cloud.  I work with the Princesses in the Equestrian government.”         The grown mare sheepishly raised her hoof, resembling a small filly in school.         “Yes?”  Cloud asked.  He was rather used to aspects of his office cowing others.     “Um... why couldn’t I see you, and what does my little Rosie have to do with anything?”  At the sound of her nickname, Rose Petal might have blushed, but she ducked her head to hide it.     “Because I am Death.  I am retiring soon, and before I can retire I must choose and train a replacement.  Princess Luna has recommended your daughter to take my mantle, and continue the job of Death.”     Roseluck’s jaw moved up and down for a moment, no sound coming forth.  “Why does Princess Luna want to take my daughter for Death?  How could that possibly be a good thing?”     Cloud sighed.  “Maybe I am not the one best suited to explaining this.  Come to Canterlot tonight, and speak with the Princess herself.  I shall be there, and all your questions will be answered then.”     “I...”  Roseluck shook her head, fighting off the last effects of Death’s aura.  “I don’t know if I want Rose Petal becoming Death.  I just can’t--”     Dashing Cloud just held up a hoof.  “Please. I must get back to work, I feel my clients calling me.  Come to Canterlot,”  he gave the elder mare a small pouch of bits, “we can talk, and decide, there.  Good day.”  He reached out with a hoof and touched the wall.  Right before the mare’s eyes, he vanished. The two generations of the Rose family looked over at each other.  Walking out the door in a daze, the elder one turned to her sister working behind the counter. “Sister, you’ll never believe who we just had the pleasure of meeting...”