Death
This is a word that every mortals no matter if they are a common villager or a mighty king fear at some point in their life. Because death is the end of the road a lot of mortals living in the Gaia branch imagine there is nothing else after death your mind and memories vanishing into oblivion.
It is true that death is the end in many ways but it is also always the begining of a new story. The mortals who die are reborn in the next life. Maybe they lose their memories but their spirit live on and they leave their marks in every worlds of the multiverse.
When I died I too thought I would be reborn and begin anew. But for some reasons I was chosen for another path. I was sent in the Elysian Fields living in eternal bliss free of the worries the mortals impose on themself.
But all thing must come to an end even death itself. Soon I would come back in the realm of the mortals and help my fellow mortals changing the multiverse forever.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me introduce myself, I am Winter Song I am a water elementalist and I was the one that killed that crazy genocidal Elder Goddess named Gaia but in doing so I had to sacrifice my own life.
I've been living as a spirit in the Elysian Fields with my wife and daughter for the last fifty years. How two mares got themself a foal I wouldn't know. You should ask Elder Harmony if you want the details.
''Hey my little bird what are you doing out there all alone?'' I turned at the sound of the voice and smiled as I saw Golden Pie as beautiful as ever.
''I'm just thinking.'' I responded with a small smile.
''About what might I ask?'' Golden Pie purred as she placed her head on my shoulder.
''It's been fifty years since we've seen Equestria I wonder how much it has changed.''
''Maybe you should just ask your mother when she come visiting.''
I thought about that for a second. ''I guess I just would like to see it for myself I'm always worried that a new monster will appear and the six of them won't be able to defeat it.''
Golden Pie put a reassuring hoof on my chin. ''Your mother is the element of kindness. She's been fighting monsters and tyrants before you where even born. The only thing she could never defeat was the Soul Reapers and you and the council took care of all of them she will be fine.''
My ears lowered and I look at the ground. ''I guess.''
''And if the worst came to be she would just be sent here with us. Wouldn't it be nice to have your mother with us?''
''NO!'' Golden Pie recoiled at my scream. ''I mean yes it would be cool to have her with us but I prefer to see her just one time per month if it's mean she doesn't have to suffer at the hands of an evil monster to do so.''
Golden Pien was about to say something but a Unicorn mare appeared in fron of us interupting our moment.
''Hello Winter Song mighty defender of the Veil.'' I frowned.
''Clover The Clever I told you to stop using that stupid title. I'm just a normal mare... With super awesome powers that no one can beat.''
Golden Pie rolled her eyes playfully. ''My wife is so humble.''
''What can I say? You can't hide awesomeness.'' I replied with a smirk.
Clover cleared her throat. ''I'm sorry to interupt but you have a visitor Winter Song.''
I looked at her in surprise. ''What? But mom and sis aren't suppose to come here for another two weeks.''
''Sorry for disappointing you but it's not your family. Elder Harmony is requesting an audience with you.''
Golden Pie began to walk away but then turned to me. ''You better go see what he want, meanwhile I will go make in sort Spooky Prank won't put herself in trouble again.''
I sighed, what could a busy leader of the multiverse want with a dead mare like me? I guess I will know soon enough.
- - - - -
Elder Harmony was standing in front of a portal that was whirling with all the colors of the rainbow. The portal was there for the spirits that want to move on in another life. I guess it was nice to have the option there but I'm happy here with my wife and my foal I have no reason to want to quit this life or unlife in this case.
''Hello Harmony what can I do for you?'' When I was young I would have pay much more respect to the Elders but with the war against the Reapers I had seen what the Elders really are. Not some omnipotent being that knew everything and were always right but just some people with a lot of power that just want the best for us.
Well except Gaia I have no respect for that bitch. I was especially close to Harmony because my first incarnation Roxanne was very close to him almost like father and daughter. Even thought I'm not exactly her Harmony still cherish the soul of his long lost daughter. It was a little akward at first to have somepony I barely knew love me like I was family but overtime I came to apreciate Harmony.
''I have a proposition for you. I need your help.'' I cocked my head curiously.
''You want my help? What can I do? I'm dead in case you didn't notice, I don't think I can do much.''
''You remember that we step down of power me and Author fifthy years ago?'' Harmony asked me.
''Well I remember my mother telling me about it. I was already dead when that happened.''
Harmony nodded. ''Well after we step down the mortals created The Great Mortal Empire. They are the one that do the laws and protect the mortals now.''
''Wait they have given the power of all the multiverse to a single mortal? That seem really risky and stupid.''
Harmony shook his head. ''No it work a little like The Council but on a greater scale. Each worlds has a representative and they call a vote for each decision made for the multiverse.''
''Ok thanks for the history lesson but I don't seen what it has to do with me.'' Harmony took a more grim expression.
''One week ago they decided that the mortals of the Gaia branch have been oppressed by the laws of Gaia long enough and that they should bring the worlds all together under a single banner. But doing this could have disastrous consequences.
I mean some worlds like the many versions of Equestria shouldn't be too bad. But I'm more worried about the worlds where they have almost no knowledge of how the world really work. Like Earth for example in the Gaia branch they don't know any monsters, no magic and no other sapient beings even worse a lot of them are not even sure if souls are a real thing or not.''
''So they might be confused for a year or two what so bad about that?'' I asked with a confused forwn.
''Most of them should be alright but there is a small but pretty strong minority that will take offense to spitting in the face of their beliefs. They have been believing in either religious or scientific knowledge for hundred of years and it will all be shattered when we arrive. And it's not even the worst type of world we might have to face.
Some world out there have monsters so teryfying that they have bring the end of the worlds in question.''
''Why didn't you stop these monsters isn't it your role to stop these sorts of things?'' I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Harmony sighed dejectedly ''I couldn't at the time. One of the rules in the Gaia branch is that the Elder Gods can't enter it. I could only keep balance in the Kira branch.''
''So why are you telling me all this Harmony?''
''Winter Song you are strong maybe the strongest mortal of level C. The only ones stronger than you in Equestria are the princesses and the only reason for that is because Celestia and Luna are level A and Twilight and Cadence are level B.''
''Wait Celestia and Luna are level A?! How is that even possible I thought only people born from a god had that level of magic Not only that but it mean they can't be killed no matter what happen.''
Harmony chuckled at my shocked expression. ''I'm not surprise you didn't know it, only a few people do. You see most people assume that when we recognise someone as equal to a god we just give them a title. This is not the case we also give them something called the divine spark.''
''The divine spark? What the hay is that?''
''It made of the same energy the soul of a god is made. But when we give a mortal a divine spark it doesn't automatically give them immortality. Once they have the spark they have to prove themself show the spark that they have the interest of their subjects above all else. You must also make a great feat worthy of a god then and only then they can ascend. The ascension is long it took two hundred years for Celestia to be a true goddess.''
''Anyway back at the subject at hand, you are a champion of the mortals you are a symbol of hope that the mortals can overcome any obstacle even if it seem impossible to defeat. Having you helping unify the multiverse would give hope to the worried mortals in the coming years.''
My ears fell falt on my head. ''I'm grateful they look at me that way, but I'm dead I can do nothing for them anymore.''
''Winter Song if you accept I can bring you and your wife back to life. You will get a second chance at life you would be finally able to grow into a beautiful mare instead of being stuck as a teenager for the rest of times.''
I throught about this, on one hoof I could see the good old home I missed so much. On the other hoof I would probably have to fight once again against every evils that threaten us. And there was something that bothered me about his offer.
''What about my daughter? You didn't mention her in your offer.''
Harmony frowned at that which made my heart freeze. ''Unfortunately since your daughter never have been alive to begin with I can't bring her back to life.''
''What?! Why can't you just put her in a new body or something?''
Harmony shook his head. ''No I can't, you see Winter there are three types of energy the spark produce there is Magicka which is the energy you use to cast spell there is Memoria it's a magic tied to your brain and it is the energy that make in sort your soul remember everything and there is Imprintia that course throught your entire body it is the energy that remember what your uninjured body is suppose to look like.
Spooky Prank's Magicka and Memoria are just fine but she never got the chance to develop her Imprintia. The Impritia also work as a sort of net for the soul if we were to put your daughter in a new body she would pass throught it in a matter of seconds.''
I took a resigned expression. ''If my daughter doesn't come with me in Equestria I'm not going.''
Surprisingly Harmony didn't seem disappointed. ''I said I can't give her a new body but I could bend the rules a little and allow her to come in Equestria as a ghost. I could even put an enchantment on her to make in sort she isn't affected by soul catchers.''
I was about to tell him something but he lift a hoof. ''Don't tell me your response now. I will wait one week. You can think about this and ask your family if you want to do this. If you don't want to I will understand and will not bothering you anymore. You deserve to live in peace for what you have done. I won't force you to face the harsh world of the livings if you aren't up for it.''
And with that the bearded Alicorn vanished throught the portal.
I stared at where he was for a few seconds before making my way home. I had a lot to think about.
Opening