Chapter One
A shiver went involuntarily down the spine of the slight pony as she read the card in front of her.
Death, the font read.
Finely printed, the ivory white card contrasted with the red depths of the gemstone it rested up. In fact the plainness of the card almost drew the reader instinctively instead to the gem. Though no bigger than one’s own hoof, the growing darkness in its pit swallowed the world. It seemed to darken to almost black as she gazed at it, something she believed had to be just caused by the poor lighting around her.
“Ah, yes. A truly memorizing one. Don’t stare too long now.”
The silky smooth voice of the stall owner broke the gem’s hold over the pony, a soft yellow pegasus, and she looked up startled.
“Oh, I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean. Oh, it’s just-“
“Shush, there’s not a need for you to apologize. The stone you see before, Death as the card so eloquently states, does that to ponies. But unless you plan to purchase it, too much knowledge is not wise.”
“Oh,” She turned her back to the gem, careful this time not to gaze too deep, “What does it do?”
“It’s actually quite simple. Enchanted with a unicorn’s own spell,” The stall proprietor tapped his own horn with the look that a teacher saves for a particularly slow pupil, “It tells the holder with death advances for them.”
He paused for a second, placing a hoof out to trace the contours of the polished surface, once more forcing the pegasus to look at him.
“The darkening center…It’s almost like death’s personal calling card.”
It was now that he noticed the mare backing off, pupils shrunken down to fit upon the head of pin.
“This is, of course, to allow ponies to avoid his greeting.”
The shying demeanor of his would-be customer did not shift.
“But of course, such a stone is not for such a lovely mare. You are at the peak of your life and a beauty to behold. You have no worries about death coming knocking for you,” Certain inaudible sounds begged to differ at his words, “Perhaps instead…Hmm, let me pose a question for you. Does a sweet, little thing like you have somepony to call their own? A special somepony of which to spend the lonely nights with?”
Though hidden behind a curtain of her own mane she shook her head furiously, “Umm… I don’t think I need anything here after all. I’m sorry for wasting your time.”
“My dear, you haven’t wasted anypony’s time. Take a look at this stone over here, tell me what it says.” He smiled warmly, encouraging her to listen to his honeyed words.
“Love.” She squeaked.
“Love. Exactly right. One of the greatest treasures to grace ponykind and it can be yours.”
“I really don’t think…Not to offend you or anything, but…I’m really quite alright by myself.”
Nonetheless her eyes couldn’t help but brush over this new stone too. A blue stone, it was obviously a sapphire and one of considerable size. Unlike the other this one, with its clouded surface, could not hope to fit a top one’s hoof. That was not the only difference though. Unlike the inky depths of the other, this one seemed to have a light shine from the very center.
“It seems somepony could become a very lucky mare tonight,” The seller chortled, “You see, the stone will lighten as a response, just like the stone before would have grown darker if it sensed death coming for you. If you follow its light on the other end you could find a pony that will live to make your life a pleasure.”
Doubt clouded her eyes just like the surface of the stone.
“All of my stones are quite affordable, I assure you. For what you are getting, could you really name a price?”
“I don’t really have many bits…I’m not even sure why I came in here. I don’t think I could afford any of these. They’re all such nice stones…”
The smile slide off the face of the unicorn as he sensed the imminent loss of sale.
“If money is of an issue for you I think I know of just the stone that will suit your needs”
His horn lit up, obviously rushing to regain her attention.
“Take a look”
The glowing aura of his magic deposited in her hooves the largest stone yet. Another sapphire, just like the one before it, but this one lacked the glimmer of quality spoken by the other one’s shine.
“As you can plainly see, the stone itself is not of premium quality. That does not stop it from holding the best spell of them all.”
A shadowy star danced just under the surface, playing with her attention just as the proprietor intended it to. Slowly, it raised up, leaving the confines of the solid rock.
“This particular gem is enchanted to lead the user to wealth. I think to explain this stone best a demonstration is what you need. Think of your bits, the way the cold metal feels and the grooves on the sides. Can you picture that?”
A meek nod answered him.
“Look.”
The star had left whatever leash kept it near its own stone and was now quite free. Down to the floor it went, like a fish through water. Occasionally it would dip down between cracks in the parched dirt but would rise up again, only to appear at the base of her own hoof.
“Lift it up.”
“What?” Her voice, startled, held confusion.
“Your hoof, lift it up.”
As she did as he told the star darted under there.
“Look, where has the star rested?”
There, right where her hoof was previously both could see a tell-tale gleam.
“Well?” Impatient, his magic fished it forth, “As you can see this is a bit. A single one sure but the stone delivers just as I promised. What do you say? Surely a purchase that will bring you wealth is a purchase worth making.”
With a simple pluck of his magic he drew the coin out.
“What do you say?”
“Why would you sell it? Why not keep it for yourself?” She burst out, “I mean… I’m sorry...Just if you can find money with it surely it is more profitable for you to keep it…”
“Why yes it would be. But you see, my spells never work as well for myself as they do for others.” Sadness flit across his face for her benefit.
“I’m not sure…”
Desire to complete the sale drove him desperate. “If bits are the matter, consider that a non-issue. There is something else you have that would purchase this fine gem just as easily.”
Grabbing the Wealthstone back from her hooves he replaced it with another.
“Your Love.”
The glowing sapphire almost fell from her hooves at the stallion’s words.
“I see you misunderstand. I am a lonely stallion, kept company only by my spells and the chunks of stone you see around you. Does that sound fulfilling to you? I want to meet the one. Whoever it is that stone leads too, that’s all I want.”
“But-”
He cut her off, “The stone does not work as well for me, remember?”
“Well, if that would make you happy…”
“It will. It will make us both happy in fact. To say no now, why that would be just heartless.”
That settled it. With the flourish, he plucked a single feather from her side with which to write.
“I hope you don’t mind. Now, for records sake, who shall I say am I selling to?”
“Oh, I am...Fluttershy.” She said, rubbing at her side.
“Didn’t quite catch that.”
“I’m Fluttershy…” She said, even quieter this time than the last.
“I’ll just put down Shutterfly. Photographer are you?”
“Um...Well, that’s not my...but if you want to…” Fluttershy was basically talking to herself now.
“Well, here is your receipt for one Wealthstone. No refunds or returns allowed after this point.”
“What now?”
“Now? You simply continue about your day. Whatever you were going to do, you do. I will follow as you do so. The stone will tell us what is next. I’ll hold onto the the Wealthstone until then.”
Fluttershy hesitated for a second, rationalizing this over. She hadn’t wanted the romance anyways, so she wasn’t really losing anything. Was that what made this feel wrong? It felt to her like she was the one coming out ahead in this deal, that never happened to her when she went to the marketplace.
But then the glow was there again and she could see now there was also a glow in his eyes, the excitement of happiness to come.
“Alright. I was just heading home when I came across your stall.”
“Lead the way. I promise you won't regret your choice.”
The market place was bustling this afternoon. Stalls were almost completely hidden behind throngs of swishing tails and colorful cutie mark adorned flanks. A small pathway cleared itself as interest waned over the gemstone stall as the “Open” sign flipped over to its more current status, “Closed”.
She could see over there Rose Luck making lively conversation a customer who’s bits already piled up on the polished wood. If she turned the other way she could see the owner of the candy shop trotting happily alongside the fit form of a unicorn musician. Now that she realized it very few ponies in Ponyville walked around alone.
The direction she was heading was more sparsely populated, the crowds thinned so that everypony, and their partners too, were easily discernible. Fluttershy’s pace gained the slightest amount of bounce to it as both buildings and ponies alike became an issue that only existed behind her. This bounce could not be mimicked in that of her companion’s hooves though as he realized this very same thing and with it the fact that with the dwindling amount of ponies meant a dwindling amount of possible special someponies.
“Are you sure this is the direction the stone says?”
“Oh, well. your stone seems to be getting brighter. I thought that’s what it was supposed to do.”
“It is,” He sighed, “But do you see any ponies out here?”
“No, but-”
Fluttershy’s faltering words were cut off by a sudden and piercing shriek of fear behind the two ponies. The source it, as it would happen, was a carriage that was hurtling at unsafe speeds directly at them. At the very same moment the sapphire Lovestone flared with the brightness of Celestia’s own sun signaling its time had come. But neither of the two ponies present acknowledge this. Both lunged for safety. Fluttershy leapt into a bush for her own survival and the shop keep leapt into the road for the safety of the mare in the wagon. Already his horn was lowered and a glow stronger than before could seen surrounding the horn and the wagon itself.
The wagon slowed to a stop with an explosion of dust that covered everything in an impenetrable cloud for several seconds. As the dust cleared the sight that Fluttershy was left with was that of the stallion, magic now doused, with his hooves wrapped around a mare that could only be describe as luscious. His hooves were wrapped around beautiful curves at neither too fat nor too slender. Her body was the sort seen on ads but yet there was a certain modest air about her that said that would never be her personal choice. Her cream colored coated was only blemished by the pink tinged cheeks of fear and the brown dust that crept at her fetlocks. And- Fluttershy realized just then how dark the stone had gone now. So this really was her, the one that could have been hers. But the way her hooves, this new mare’s hooves, draped themselves over the stall owner’s shoulder she could tell, just like the stone could, that this opportunity was gone. But as smiles blossomed on both of their faces Fluttershy felt her lips tugging too.
“Meet Cherry Jubilee,” The proprietor said as the two drew closer, “She was just telling me about the well to do cherry orchard she owns and runs. Quite fascinating I say.”
The two ponies nuzzled before he continued.
“Anyways, you fulfilled your end and now its time for me to do the same. The Lovestone if you please,” With that he exchanged the two sapphires, “With our deal now completed I will be off, Cherry here has invited me over to spend lunch with her.”
It was as Fluttershy opened the door to her cottage that the full weight dropped down on her. No animal calls greeted her and any pony sounds were lost entirely when one lived this close to the Everfree. Had the trade been a sound one? What if she had been the one to be off right now, with that lovely mare and surely lovely meal.
Her hooves echoed pitifully against the wooden floors. These very same floors used to have paws and claws skidded over themselves with glee when ever she came home. Where had she gone wrong. Why did she think companionship wasn’t something she needed?
This Wealthstone seemed so dull now. The star barely visible, what more was it than a hunk of rock. How could it grant her happiness? It couldn’t grant her her old life back, it couldn’t give her the love she used to have or the love she could have had.
Fluttershy sighed. So many things had gone wrong. WIth her mistakes piling up against her it couldn’t be long until they collapsed into an avalanche. How could she have gotten in this sorry state.
She blinked, finding herself in the kitchen, the Wealthstone tumbling to the floor. She could end the long line of failure. She had knives; sharp, long ones she used when she had to prepare meals for the pickier eaters. It wouldn’t be hard. She could do it.
Her teal eyes reflected back at her as she brought the blade up to her face. She could do this, she knew she could. Then she never had to worry about bothering everypony else again. It would be easy.
Creak
Fluttershy whipped around, blade grazing against her cheek in her hurry.
A skull greeted her.
“No!”
Fluttershy couldn’t help it. As time slowed she felt the hoof that carried the blade move on a will that seemed not to be of its own. The knife left her hoof and for the last time she saw her eyes as the teal pools they were all her life.
And then time sped back up again. Just like that. The knife found itself lodged up to the hilt in between two empty eye sockets.
That was that.
Fluttershy just killed Death himself.