//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: Near Death Experience 
// by Hadles 
//------------------------------//

"You said you wanted chocolate chip pancakes, right?" Pinwheel rooted around in the pantry for the pancake mix. She grabbed the box from the top shelf along with an unopened bag of chocolate chips and headed back into the kitchen. Pale Hoof sat at the kitchen table, wearing a fluffy pastel blue bathrobe. At the sight of him perched eagerly at the table, swathed in a floral print robe, Pinwheel couldn't help but giggle. She set the supplies down on the counter and turned to face him, still smiling, "I'll try my best not to burn them."

"IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS BURNT." Pale Hoof answered, opening his mouth. His long black tongue flopped over the side, hanging over his teeth like a panting dog's, "I WANT TO TASTE YOUR COOKING."

"It's just pancake mix, not really 'my' cooking." She replied, tearing open the box with her teeth, "There's kind of a reason I don't have a chef's hat for a cutie mark."

"COOKING IS COOKING." Pale Hoof replied. Pinwheel chuckled again, shaking her head as she pulled the mixing bowl out of the cupboard and dumped the powdered mix into the bowl, "IF YOU MADE IT, I WANT TO TRY IT."

"You're a really sweet colt when you want to be." Pinwheel answered, smiling over her shoulder at him. Pale Hoof started to respond when they heard a hollow knocking on the screen door. Poking her head out into the hall, Pinwheel saw the vague silhouette of a blue-grey pegasus standing at the door. She grinned apologetically at Pale Hoof, "I'll be right back."

The wall-eyed mail mare said nothing, simply pulling an envelope out of her saddlebags and handing it off to Pinwheel with a big, silly grin. Pinwheel smiled back, waving to the mare as she took off to continue her delivery route. The stationery reeked of heady perfumes – the heavy floral smell was enough to make Pinwheel's head swim. Pale Hoof watched her from the kitchen door as she walked back. On the envelope, printed in metallic gold, was a stylized alicorn with wings at full spread. Pinwheel set the envelope down on the table. Glancing up at Pale Hoof, Pinwheel nodded toward the letter. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Pale Hoof magically lifted the envelope and ripped it open in mid air. Two shiny golden tickets dropped to the kitchen floor. Pinwheel looked up at Pale Hoof, then down at the tickets. Slowly, she bent her neck and clenched the tickets in her teeth. Gently, she set them down on the table. "…These are tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala." She muttered, blinking at the shiny gold paper, "Who would send us Gala tickets?"

Pale Hoof set the envelope down on the table. A short letter peeked out from the envelope. Magically, he peeled back the envelope and unfolded the letter. Setting the letter down on the table, he nudged the paper over to Pinwheel. "I BELIEVE THIS WILL EXPLAIN."

Pinwheel craned her neck to see the text. "'Dear Pinwheel and Pale Hoof,'" She began reading, "'I hope you're doing well.' Yadda yadda…'It's been a few weeks since the incident. I hope things have calmed down'…'Enclosed are two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. I feel it will be a good learning experience for Pale Hoof.' What?"

"IT APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF TEST." Pale Hoof answered, "CELESTIA WANTS TO MAKE SURE I CAN BEHAVE WELL."

Pinwheel scanned the letter again, then looked down at the tickets. There on the front of the tickets, in looping elegant text, was the date, location, and time of the Gala. "…Thank goodness, this isn't until next spring." Letting out a sigh, Pinwheel turned to look up at Pale Hoof, "We have a few months. We're lucky Celestia sent out the invites so early. Geez…we'll have to find some way to get to Canterlot as well. I guess we'll have to stay the night. Oh, and nice clothes too. Those are a must."

"WE NEVER WEAR CLOTHES."

"Says the colt in the fuzzy blue bathrobe." Pinwheel smirked.

"THIS IS YOUR BATHROBE, YOU KNOW."

Pinwheel grinned. "I know, I know. But, anyway, the Gala is the fanciest party in Equestria. We really have to look the part." Tacking a step back, Pinwheel looked Pale Hoof up and down. He stood almost a foot taller than her. For a moment, she flashed back to the night she revived herself in the Canterlot Palace Garden. Pale Hoof was nearly as tall as Princess Celestia. Nopony was that tall, "I don't know where we'd find a tuxedo in your size. And it's going to be hard for a tailor to make you one if she can't touch you. I'll need a dress too…"

Pinwheel's eyes flickered toward the tickets. Every year, the Manehattan Times published a huge, full color section about the Grand Galloping Gala, complete with stunning photos of mares in expensive gowns and colts in top hats. The best ball in Equestria, they said. All the high class ponies attended. Pinwheel glanced down at herself. Ponyville ponies rarely, if ever, wore clothes. Dressing up was something for city ponies, not quiet country fillies like them. Pinwheel hardly ever looked in her closet. She didn't even own a normal dress, let alone one befitting a noblemare. The thought of buying one of those gowns made her cringe. Sparkles, gems, rustling silks – a full gala ensemble could be thousands of bits.

Pale Hoof peered into her face. "WHAT IS WRONG?"

Pinwheel chewed her bottom lip. "It's just…" She paused, struggling to find the words, "I haven't sold a pinwheel in weeks. Where am I supposed to get the money for this?" Tallying the expenses in her head, a knot of stress formed in the pit of Pinwheel's stomach. Overnight accommodations in Canterlot, clothes, travel expenses – just getting a hotel room in the capital would drain half a year's salary. Pinwheel's skin began to prickle. The whole situation with Pale Hoof had eaten her attention. She hadn't made or sold a single pinwheel since she first died.

"I COULD—" Pale Hoof began, but Pinwheel cut him off.

"Don't worry, don't worry! I'll figure something out." Pinwheel reassured him, giving a big fake smile. Inside, her guts were roiling. At most, pinwheels sold for one or two bits. It would take a mountain of pinwheels to pay for their gala expenses, "Maybe…maybe we can go see Rarity again. She makes really lovely dresses. Maybe she can give us some kind of gala discount."

"PINWHEEL, IF YOU NEED MONEY—" Pale Hoof started, but Pinwheel was already half way out the door, leaving the pancake batter abandoned in the mixing bowl. Gazing at the fleeing blue mare, Pale Hoof let out a deep, chilly sigh.




They could hear the shouting all the way up the road from Carousel Boutique.

"What do you MEAN, 'twenty percent cooler'? That is the VAGUEST suggestion I have EVER received on a garment!" Rarity's voice shrieked through the boutique door. Pinwheel hesitated outside on the step, one hoof raised to knock. She glanced up at Pale Hoof, chewing her bottom lip. The tall grey colt nodded. Closing her eyes and bracing for more shouting, Pinwheel knocked on the door, "The least you can do is be specific, Rainbow Dash! Oh—" The shouting paused. Moments later, Rarity, her usually perfectly styled mane falling crimped and lank, opened the door. Her work glasses, a pair of red cat's eye frames, balanced precariously on her nose. "Oh. Oh my. Hello, Pinwheel. I…hope you didn't hear any of that just now…"

Pinwheel tried to smile, "Uh…we just came by to see if you could help us, Rarity. But if you're busy…" Just behind Rarity in the studio, Pinwheel could see Rainbow Dash leaning casually against a countertop, eyeing a dress form critically. Rainbow fabric lay draped over the mannequin, stitched haphazardly. Rarity glanced surreptitiously back toward Dash, then forced a grin.

"No, no. Please! Come in." Stepping aside, Rarity gestured for them to enter. Pinwheel stepped inside, followed silently by Pale Hoof, "I'm a bit…ah…busy…but I'll try to help any way I can." Rolls of fabric lay strewn all across the studio. Needles, scissors, and colored spools of thread sat piled on the countertops. Rainbow Dash examined Pale Hoof with sleepy, half-lidded eyes.

"You're that creepy pony that killed Fluttershy's turtle, right?" She asked, "I heard the Princess caught you dragging a body or something through town."

"Uh, we got that sorted out." Pinwheel smiled awkwardly, "He's not a bad colt, really."

"Sure, okay." Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders. With a sudden light in her face, she turned back toward Rarity, "Hey! I just got the best idea! How about, like, armor? With a cool cape? That would look so awesome!"

Rarity gawked, "Rainbow Dash, what kind of fashion designer do you think I am? I don't know anything about blacksmithing!"

Pinwheel rubbed the back of her neck, "Uh…maybe we should come back later."

Rarity forced another smile, "No…I must apologize. You caught me at a bit of a trying time." The white unicorn let out a deep sigh, frowning over at Rainbow Dash, "Rainbow Dash, would you mind letting me chat with Miss Pinwheel for a moment?"

"Yeah, okay." Dash answered, straightening up, "Just remember what I said. Armor. And make it, you know, cool." With that, the sky blue pegasus sidled past Pale Hoof and slipped out the door. Rarity let out a long sigh. Magically, she lifted her glasses off her nose and set them aside. Looking over at the mess of rainbow fabric on the dress form, Rarity let out a pitiful whine and slammed her head down on the counter.

Pinwheel grimaced, "Are you all right?"

Lifting her head, Rarity gazed desperately at Pinwheel. "You have…NO idea. I love my friends dearly, but…I'm just not certain I can make these dresses the way they want! They look, " She peered at the rainbow mess and suppressed a shudder, "just AWFUL."

"IF YOU CANNOT MANAGE IT, STOP." Pale Hoof advised. Pinwheel shushed him.

"I'm sure they'll turn out fine, Rarity. They just look funny right now because you haven't finished them." Pinwheel reassured, walking over and touching Rarity's shoulder with a hoof, "What are these dresses for, anyway?"

Rarity leaned heavily against the counter, massaging her face with a hoof, "Princess Celestia sent Twilight tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. Not a single one of my friends had a decent dress! I just had to step in." Closing her eyes in horror, Rarity rested her chin on the counter, "I made these lovely designs for them a few days ago, but my friends hated them. I've never felt so ashamed. So now I have to make five NEW dresses with THEIR designs."

"Uh…Pale Hoof and I recently got tickets to the Gala as well." Pinwheel added. Rarity's head jerked up, "I was hoping you could make some outfits for us, but…I can see you're too busy right now. I don't really have money for a nice dress anyway."

Rarity glanced back at the dress forms, then up at Pale Hoof. Pinwheel winced. None of the dress forms sitting in the back matched Pale Hoof's size and shape. "I would love to help you, Pinwheel. But…I simply can't right now." She lowered her head, eyes closing, "My workload right now is just…too big to fit in two more outfits."

Pinwheel frowned, but nodded. "I understand."

"But…the gala isn't for several months. Maybe if I'm not laughed out of fashion forever, I could design something for you. And don't worry about money. Just give me what you can and I'll work around it." Magically opening a nearby drawer, Rarity pulled out a quill and a notepad. At the top, in delicate looping cursive, she scrawled 'Waitlist'. Levitating the quill and paper over to Pinwheel, Rarity continued, "Just put your names down so I don't forget. Once this mess with my friends is over, maybe I'll have the time to design something for you."

Pinwheel gripped the quill with her teeth and jotted down her name and Pale Hoof's. "We're really grateful." Nodding, Pinwheel smiled at Rarity, "And don't worry too much about your friends. I'm sure the dresses will turn out all right."

Rarity covered her face with a hoof. "Oh…I hope so. I truly hope so."

"We'll get out of your mane now." Pinwheel kept smiling, but inside she felt an unbearable heaviness growing in her chest. Motioning for Pale Hoof to follow her, Pinwheel stepped outside. Once they were out in the open, Pinwheel's head dropped, her mane falling in front of her face, "Well…I have no idea what we can do now." She sighed, frowning up at Pale Hoof.

"PINWHEEL, MONEY IS NOT AN OBSTACLE. I CAN—" Pale Hoof began, but Pinwheel quickly cut him off.

"What do you mean, it's not an obstacle? Of course it is! I definitely can't afford to pay one of those super fancy designers in Canterlot. Geez…" Pinwheel closed her eyes, grimacing, "I guess we'll have to tell Celestia we can't come."

"PINWHEEL, I KNOW WHERE—"

"I mean, gosh! I know the Princesses are rich and all, but don't they understand us little ponies down here don't have all those bits? We can't just throw money around!" Pinwheel ranted, not paying a lick of attention to Pale Hoof. She paced frantically back and forth in front of the boutique, "It's unrealistic! There's a reason only rich city ponies can go to these things! I mean, how can Celestia expect us to come to the Gala if we don't have any money?"

"PINWHEEL!" Pale Hoof shouted, his voice suddenly deafeningly loud. Pinwheel froze in her tracks. The sheer volume of his voice was enough to shake the ground and rattle the windows of Carousel Boutique. White frost iced the grass and Pinwheel's mane. The little blue mare stood shivering, her pupils huge. Pale Hoof closed his mouth, "LISTEN TO ME. I KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET SOME MONEY. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM."

Pinwheel blinked, shaking the ice crystals off her mane. "It's…not?"

"NO. LET ME SHOW YOU. I THINK YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED." With a toss of his neck, Pale Hoof motioned for Pinwheel to follow him. He led her away from Ponyville toward the dark entrance of the Everfree forest. Spindly trees beckoned them like the knotted fingers of corpses. Pausing at the border between Everfree and Equestria, Pale Hoof took a deep breath. His scythe, the thorny branch and blade, materialized before him, levitating a few feet above the ground. It shed darkness. Coils of shadow spilled off the hilt like smoke. Gripping the scythe in his teeth, Pale Hoof gave a mighty swing. Reality tore open like a burst paper bag. A massive spirit materialized from the gash, covering the grounds of Everfree like a fine white mist. Slowly, the spirit began to take shape. Pinwheel swallowed hard. Before them floated the spirit of a dragon, massive and serpentine. The spectral dragon lifted its head, blinking slowly.

"Hey there, Death." The dragon groaned, stretching as though she'd just woken from a long nap, "Can I help you with something?"

"HELLO, ALICE." Pale Hoof replied. Pinwheel fell back on her rump, gawking at the giant spirit, "PINWHEEL REQUIRES MONEY. WILL YOU LEAD US TO YOUR TREASURE HOARD?"

The dragon thought for a moment, scratching her chin with a long talon. "It's been…what? A hundred years since I died? I'm not sure if my hoard is still there. Another dragon might have taken it by now."

"THE WEALTH OF YOUR TREASURE RESONATES IN THE VOID. NO ONE HAS TAKEN IT. NOT YET." Pale Hoof answered. The Dragon raised a scaly eyebrow. She sat before them like a massive sparkling sphinx. Pinwheel couldn't find the will to speak. She sat stunned on her rump. Twilight's friend dragon wasn't even a fiftieth of the spirit's size. If that little purple dragon grew into a monster of this size, Twilight would have a hard time keeping him safely in Ponyville. Pinwheel's eyes flickered up to Pale Hoof and back to the dragon.

"You…you r-reap dragon souls too?" Pinwheel finally stuttered. Pale Hoof turned his head creakily toward her.

"YES, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT. THEY OFTEN PUT UP A FIGHT." He explained before turning back to the gleaming spectral dragon, "YOUR HOARD. SHOW US."

"No need to be so bossy, Death." The dragon sighed, rising to her feet. She was a mountain of translucent scales. Her long, serpentine neck was taller than the spires of Canterlot. Slowly, her movements heavy and labored, the dragon turned and began walking into the forest. Trees and stones passed soundlessly through her intangible body. Pinwheel stared wide eyed at the incredible creature. She glanced sidelong at Pale Hoof.

"Did…did SHE put up a fight?" Pinwheel whispered.

"NO. ALICE WAS MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD. SHE HAS BIRTHED MANY CHILDREN TO CARRY ON HER LEGACY. SHE ACCEPTED DEATH WILLINGLY." Pale Hoof explained. Pinwheel shivered. The dragon could crush a normal sized pony with a single swipe of her talon. Pale Hoof wasn't exactly a normal pony, but even he barely reached the dragon's ankle.

After some walking, they paused outside a yawning cavern. "Be careful. I don't know what lives in there now." The dragon inhaled deeply, "But I can still smell my precious gems…"

"I AM DEATH. I DO NOT NEED TO BE CAREFUL." Pale Hoof announced, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, ALICE."

"Any time, Death." The dragon answered gently. Pale Hoof nodded. With another swing of his scythe, the dragon vanished. Pinwheel looked into the mossy maw of the cavern. The insides were entirely black, as if someone had taken a black crayon and scribbled all over it. Strange, quiet sounds echoed from the depth. A chilly breeze stole out of the cavern and rustled Pinwheel's mane. Goosebumps prickled her hide.

"Do…do you think something's alive in there?" Pinwheel whispered.

"IF THERE IS," Pale Hoof began, gripping his scythe hard in his teeth, "IT WON'T BE ALIVE FOR LONG." Fearlessly, Pale Hoof ventured into the darkness. Pinwheel trailed after him, jumping at the slightest sound. The cave was filled with tiny noises – water dripping, rats squeaking, rocks falling. Pinwheel stuck close to Pale Hoof's side, trying not to squeal when some invisible creature brushed up against her hooves. In the darkness of the cave, the blade of Pale Hoof's scythe gave off a cold ambient light. Pinwheel could just make out the shadows of rocks passing beneath their hooves.

All of a sudden, something shiny caught Pinwheel's eye. It reflected the glow of Pale Hoof's scythe. Eyes widening, she hurried over to it. A ruby, red as new blood and the size of an orange, lay gleaming on the cavern floor. Pinwheel picked it up with her teeth and darted back over to Pale Hoof, setting the gem down at his feet. "Look, we must be close! I've never seen a ruby this big in my life!"

"THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE TO COME." Pale Hoof answered coolly. Pinwheel snatched the massive ruby up and dropped it in her saddlebags. Gems, all twinkling vaguely in the darkness, appeared by the tens. Pinwheel snapped them up one by one, loading them into her saddlebags. In the midst of collecting the gems, Pinwheel forgot the soft sounds of breathing coming from deeper in the cave. A mass of lights sparkled from the back of the cavern. A smile bloomed on Pinwheel's face.

"That must be the treasure hoard!" She exclaimed, scurrying forward toward the lights. Just as she was about to reach the lights, though, she ran face first into a wall of fur, "Wha…?" Pinwheel coughed, spitting out a mouthful of fur. Blinking in the shadows, she felt the furry mass with her hooves. "What the heck is this?"

Pale Hoof's legs went rigid. "PINWHEEL. STEP BACK."

Pinwheel blinked. "But…"

"STEP. BACK." Pale Hoof ordered. Just as Pinwheel started to move away, the furry mountain let out a groan and began to rise. Huge yellow eyes flicked open, glowing like miniature suns. Pinwheel swallowed hard. Nearly tripping over her hooves, she scurried back behind Pale Hoof. He knocked the butt of his scythe on the ground and an icy green light flooded the cavern. Before them snarled a massive furry bear, bigger even than the dragon. Tiny lights like stars twinkled in its deep purple fur. Pinwheel's knees locked. Pale Hoof bit his scythe so hard he left teeth marks in the wood. Slowly, the ursa major lumbered about to face them. Opening its city sized maw, it let out a roar load enough to shake the cave. Massive globs of spittle flew from its mouth, dousing Pinwheel and Pale Hoof in a thin layer of saliva, "PINWHEEL. RUN."

Clumsily, Pinwheel stumbled back. Scrambling to her feet, she turned and sprinted. The ursa roared again. Clods of dirt and rock rained down from the ceiling. Pinwheel glanced hastily over her shoulder. Pale Hoof stood alone in front of the ursa, scythe in his teeth. The great star bear lifted a massive paw to swipe at Pale Hoof, but Pale Hoof was already gone. He moved so fast that Pinwheel couldn't even see him. In the cramped cavern, the ursa struggled to move, throwing its head back and forth to see where Pale Hoof went. All of a sudden, the Reaper reappeared, hovering like a ghost just above the ursa's massive purple head. Slowing, Pinwheel paused to look. With a long, arching sweep of his scythe, Pale Hoof cut through the ursa's thick, furry neck. Blood washed the walls of the cavern, spraying out like jets of lava. It steamed where it hit the rocks. Pinwheel ducked quickly behind a nearby boulder. Letting out a final roar, the ursa fell heavily on the cave floor. Everything shook. Then, silence.

Pinwheel took a deep breath. The whole cave reeked of blood. Her eyes watered and her glasses fogged. "Oh Celestia!" She gasped, wiping her eyes. Awash in red, Pale Hoof strode casually from behind the rock, his scythe dematerializing as he came closer.

"THE URSA WAS SLEEPING ON THE TREASURE." He confirmed, blood dripping off his chin, "I GOT RID OF IT FOR YOU."

Pinwheel stared open mouthed at him. "You cut its head off."

"I KILLED IT FOR YOU."

"Could you have just…used your magic to move it?"

Pale Hoof glanced down at himself, colored red with Ursa blood. "THIS WAY WAS QUICKER." He answered, "THE TREASURE IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING NOW. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MONEY AGAIN."

Pinwheel peeked around the edge of the boulder and quickly looked away, face going pale. "I…I don't want it anymore."

"SUIT YOURSELF."

Pinwheel, still grimacing, nudged her saddlebags. "I already got some gems anyway. Let's…just go home."