> A Deal with the Pale Pony
>  by DragonsHeart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue - The Universal Constant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Death. The one thing that is true everywhere. Every world, every realm and every plane of existence has Death. It is inescapable, one is destined to die the moment one is born. Even worlds die, some are even born already dead. Be it suns, gods, daemons or mortals, all will die someday…

But who makes sure one does pass on? Why, the only thing that may be immune to death… Death itself. Death, the Grim Reaper, one of the four, it has many names and many faces. He who reaps the souls of the fallen, and he who will ride out at the end of time. 

Every realm of existence has a Death, some different, yet all the same. Each Death takes a different approach to the job, some hunt, some wait and some are simply always on time. Death has no peer and only follows orders if it suits. Everyone knows what Death is supposed to look like, a tall, human skeleton, clad in robes of black, and carrying a scythe. But what about in worlds where humans or humanoid creatures don’t exist, what takes his place?

Why Death’s horse of course. The pale steed, the huge white warhorse with cold blue eyes, as ancient as Death himself is and nearly as powerful. In world where Death can’t appear Death’s horse appears and takes on his name and the title… The Pale Horse! Or in this case the Pale Pony, for this takes place in the many Realms of Equestria. And in one of these Realms of Equestria let’s follow the journey of one who meets, and makes a deal with one of the many incarnation of the Pale Horse.

Her name is Rainbow Dash… and she is about to die.
> Chapter 1 - The End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.
Marcus Tullius Cicero



The sun rises and send its rays down on a sleeping world. One ray reaches through the bedroom window of a certain rainbow-maned pegasus straight across her eyes. She does the most sensible thing - she pulls the covers over her head. It’s a Sunday morning and there is no way in Tartarus, that she’ll be the first one out of bed. She pities the ponies who have to work on a Sunday. Herself? She has no worries, no responsibilities today and nothing to do but laze around and practice her stunts. She snuggles deep within her sheets and sighs happily. It is a good morning. Then, her alarm clock betrays her. The loud noise cruelly drags her out of her sleep again, she reaches a lazy hoof over in an attempt to silence the traitor. It jumps away! She looks at the alarm clock, slightly puzzled. Is she dreaming? She makes a spirited swipe at the alarm, which jumps off the bench and lands on the floor. Unfortunately for her she loses her balance and falls off the bed and onto her face. The sudden jolt of pain causes her to remember why her alarm clock is dancing around just out of reach. She had asked Twilight to enchant her alarm clock to make it harder to stay in bed and give her a bit of a morning workout… it seemed to be a good idea at the time. She tenses up her back legs, ready to pounce on the alarm clock, which is doing a little jig by the slightly open door. The pony pounces… the alarm clock runs through… she hits the doorframe. Luckily her house is made of clouds so it doesn’t hurt too much. She glares at the evil alarm clock ringing in the hallway. She can’t ignore it, it’ll just comeback and annoy her. Even if she closes the door it would just stand outside the door and continue ringing. She gives up on the dream of sleeping in, dashes out the door after the alarm, which runs away at full speed.

Half an hour later she catches the alarm clock in the bathroom. She hits the off button harder than she should and says. “Man, I got to get Twilight to turn down the settings on this,” before placing the clock on the bathroom counter and then admiring herself in the mirror. “Looking good, Rainbow Dash,” she says to herself. She then looks at herself again and sees that she is covered in sweat from her morning ‘exercise’. ‘Ugh, I need a wash.’ She walks over to the rain cloud that is her shower. She gives it a hit and the water pours down over her. While she cleans herself the alarm clock jumps off the bench and heads back to Rainbow Dash’s room.

After finishing her shower and drying herself off, she heads down the stairs with her towel hanging round her neck.

“Hi Tank,” she says to her pet tortoise lying on her couch. The tortoise’s response is to turn to her and blink. “Sorry if I woke you,” she says while giving a quick nuzzle to her pet.

She heads to kitchen to grab an apple to eat. She glances at the open box of chocolates on the kitchen bench, the last present she got from her coltfriend before they broke up some time ago. She finds what seems to be the last chocolate and pops it into her mouth even though they have long stopped being sweet.

‘Sweets from your exes never taste good for long,” she thinks, wondering if she should spit it out.

Deciding instead to quickly swallow the bitter chocolate, she fills Tank’s food bowl and with an apple in her mouth she leaves her house and flies off into the brisk morning.





Rainbow Dash glides lazily through the crisp morning air, doing a few loops and rolls as she makes her way into town. She soon sees a large gathering of ponies at the edge of town and flies down to check it out.

“Rainbow Dash, dear, you’re up early,” calls a sophisticated voice.

“Oh, hey Rarity,” replies Rainbow Dash to her friend.

“Though, it would be wonderful to think that you are fixing your fixing your deplorable sleeping habits, I have a feeling that that this isn’t the case,” jokes Rarity.

Rainbow Dash chuckles, “Nah, I just forgot to turn off my alarm. So what’s going on here anyway?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten!” says Rarity slightly annoyed.

“Let’s just say I have for now,” counters Rainbow Dash.

Rarity sighs, “It’s the Trash and Grab, remember.”

“Oh yeah,” says Rainbow Dash, “It the thing where ponies bring stuff they don’t want anymore and sell it, right?”

“Yes, Rainbow Dash, quite correct,” answers Rarity.

“I thought you were going to open a stall?” asks Rainbow Dash remembering something else.

“Oh I did,” answers Rarity again, “But I’ve already sold out, so now I’m just browsing.”

“Wow, really?” asks Rainbow Dash surprised.

“Yes, now you should take a look around yourself,” suggests Rarity walking off, “You never know what you will find at these places.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Rainbow Dash says waving her friend off before deciding to have a poke around.





Rainbow Dash walks around the Trash and Grab eating an Apple Fritter she got from Applejack’s stall. She’s seen Pinkie Pie running around carrying a pile of stuff that she bought, but most likely didn’t need. And she’s seen Fluttershy with a few odds and ends that she has purchased. The only one of her friends that she has not seen is Twilight.

“Hi Rainbow!” calls a nearby voice.

‘Scratch that,” thinks Rainbow Dash as she finishes her Fritter and heads over to the young alicorn.

“How is it going?” asks Twilight smiling happily.

“Fine. I see you got a good spot,” Rainbow says, pointing to the large tree behind her which is providing a pool of shade.

“Well I got here early, so I got a good spot,” Twilight says with slight chuckle.

“Yeah, it is rather hot in the sun,” replies Rainbow Dash smiling.

“Although as soon as it hits noon I will lose all my shade,” sighs Twilight.

“Wait, what time is it?” asks Rainbow Dash noticing the sun.

“Nearly 12 I think,” answers Twilight.

“Buck, where’d the time go, I need to get some practice in,” Rainbow quickly turns to go but she feels her tail hit something and hears something break. Turning back she sees that she has knocked over one of the hourglasses on Twilight store. “Oh Buck, I’m sorry Twilight.”

Twilight just sighs, “Don’t worry, Rainbow, it was a stupid place to put it anyway.” Rainbow Dash is about to bend over to clean up the glass when Twilight stops her. “Don’t worry I’ll do it, just as soon as I find the dustpan and brush,” she say looking around underneath her stall.

“Ok, sure,” agrees Rainbow Dash. “Why do you have so many hourglass anyway?” 

Twilight frowns, “Well I recently ordered two new hourglasses, but when they arrived there was twenty! And they refused to take them back, so I had to find some way to get rid of them.”

“Bummer,” replies Rainbow Dash, “Well if you don’t need me I better get going,” and quickly takes off.

Twilight sighs again before continuing her search for the dustpan and brush.

“You should clean up that glass before somepony gets hurt,” comes unfamiliar cheerful voice.

“I’m getting to it!” Twilight growls, annoyed.

“Is that how treat all your customers?” comes the still cheerful voice.

Twilight realizing how rude she sounds, shoots her head back up, “I’m sorry, it just been one of those days.” Twilight now sees the pony in front of her stall. It is a good deal taller than her, clad in a hooded black robe fastened with a skull broach. The little bits of body she can see are bone white. It is carrying a long, oddly curved wooden staff with a metal skull perched on top.

“These are some fine hourglasses,” the hooded pony says cheerfully.

“Thank you?” Twilight says with an awkward smile, she can’t help the feeling that in the deep shadow of the hood there is a broad smiling face for some reason. 

“These are some good books too,” the figure adds, looking at the other items Twilight is selling.

Twilight thinks she hears a slight echo to the voice. She shakes away the weird feeling this pony gives her and gives a polite smile, “Do mind if I continue to look for the dust pan and brush so I can clean up the glass?”

“Oh please, do go ahead don’t mind me, I’m just killing time,” the figure says flicking through one of the books.





Rainbow Dash flies loops overhead above the Trash and Grab. The wind streams in her mane as she swoops through it, dodging other pegasus as they fly by. After several swift laps she glides to a stops over the tree.

“That was a good warm up,” she says to herself, doing some stretches, “Now for some tricks.”

Below her Twilight has cleaned up the hourglass and left the remains on the bench while she goes to get a bin. It seems the strange figure has left.

Rainbow Dash zooms forward ready to start… just as sun reaches its highest peak. It beats straight down on Twilight’s store and the strong rays of the sun catch on the broken glass and are dazzlingly reflected … right into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. Blinded she swerves and crashes hard into the side of large pegasus. Rainbow Dash falls with the blackness of unconsciousness creeping over her vision.

She falls down into the tree. If she was conscious she would have felt the pain as a sharp broken branch of the tree stabs deep into her side before it breaks off and she continues her fall to the ground. If she was still conscious she would have heard the screams of the nearby ponies and her friends as her life blood escapes from her wound. She might have even heard the calls for help and the rushing hooves of her friends and their cries to her. But most likely not for her soul left her body the moment she closed her eyes…
> Chapter 2 - Death's Door (Edited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash opens her eyes to find herself in total blackness.

“Where I’m I?” she asks herself.

“I believe you ponies call it limbo, Miss Dash,” states a cheerful echoing voice behind her.

Rainbow Dash turns around to see a tall pony covered in a black hooded robe, carrying a long oddly curved wooden staff with a metal skull perched on top.

“And who are you?” asks Rainbow nervously.

“Oh, I have many names,” it says dismissively, “Although you would most likely know me as the Pale Pony or Death.”

“Death!” says Rainbow Dash backing off, “Does that mean I’m…”

“Dead? Yes you died, Miss Dash… well nearly.” 

Rainbow Dash wants to back away more from this figure but found herself unable to move. “I can’t be dead… no this can’t be true,” she cries, tears threating to burst, “This must all be a really bad dream, yeah one really bad dream.”

Death sighs, “No, this is not a dream, I should know. The Sandstallion is my brother... well sort of.”

“Then where’s your scythe?” Rainbow Dash accuses, not caring about the Sandstallion part, “If you’re Death you must have scythe and all you have is a staff!”

Death sighs and with a simple movement there is the sound of metal scraping metal and a scythe blade slips out the end of its staff. “It is safer this way,” it states.

“Still doesn’t mean you are Death and I’m dead!” cries Rainbow Dash, denying this with all her might, “This might be some trick!”

“The proof is beside you, Miss Dash,” Death says pointing to something besides Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash looks over her shoulder. She screams. On the ground laying on its side with something stabbed into its chest… is another her. Blood covers the area surrounding the wound. Rainbow Dash tries to jump away, but a force stops her and pulls her back. She then notices a glowing blue strand of light, binding the two Rainbow Dashs together.

“WHAT THIS?” Rainbow Dash yells, holding the glowing stand and pointing at the other her.

“That is your mortal body and that’s is the last thing connecting you to it,” explains Death, walking up to her.

“So wait… I’m not dead yet…?” says Rainbow Dash hopefully, “And before you said I was nearly dead?” she adds remembering it.

“Oh no, you yourself are most certainly dead,” Death corrects, “Only the dead or the undead may meet Death.”

“But you said my body is dying, so doesn’t mean I’m still alive?” asks Rainbow Dash confused.

Death chuckles, “Yes I guess that is a bit confusing. While your damaged heart does still beat within your body it maybe conceived that you are sort of alive, but your soul has already left your body which means you are dead on the grand scale of things and your body is just an empty husk. The only reason you are still even connect to your body is because that heart is still beating… but that will stop soon.”

“Is there any way I can go back,” asks Rainbow Dash desperately, “I mean I might be saved. I could get to the hospital and…”

Death places an ice cold hoof on her mouth, “Shh. Even though you can’t see it, your body is in a hospital and is being operated on,” Death says quietly, “But your heart will still give up and stop, the proof is here.”

Rainbow Dash watches as Death pulls out a simple hourglass from its robe. On it is her cutie mark and her name “Rainbow Dash”… and there isn’t much sand left.

Rainbow Dash collapses onto her knees, “So I’m really going to die,” she cries, giving up fighting it and starting to cry.

“Yes… I’m sorry for your loss,” replies Death.

Rainbow Dash doesn’t hear, for her crying was covering up everything, tears streaming down her face and onto the floor. She will never complete her dream of being a Wonderbolt or get to see her friends and family again. All this comes crashing down onto her like a huge wave of grief, increasing her tears.

Death looks at the crying pony at her feet and then looks her hourglass. Death then places it in it robe and speaks with a thunderous voice, “STAND RAINBOW DASH!!”

Rainbow found herself starting to get up onto her hooves. Soon she is standing again. Death then raises its scythe above Rainbow Dash. She squeezes her teary eyes shut, fearing the end. But all she feels is a slight pressure on her forehead. She opens her eyes and see that Death has placed the butt of the scythe to her forehead.

“Stand still!” orders Death, in a strong commanding voice.

Rainbow Dash feels like she can’t move even if she wanted to. She watches in horror as the end of the scythe then slips into her forehead. It isn’t a painful feeling, more like her forehead opened up and the scythe then slips in. It is a very weird felling… suddenly lights jumps from her forehead and climb up the scythe and down to Death.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” yells Rainbow Dash, scared as light continues pour from her forehead.

“Shh, I’m just reading your mind,” Death says, shushing her. Suddenly Death yanks the scythe out and the light stops. “I see,” Death says softly, “You feel regret that you never got to say goodbye to your family or your friends either… you also regret you could not complete your dream as well,” Death stops and turns toward Rainbow Dash. She thinks she can imagine eyes look at right at hers from the darkness of the hood, “Also, you are an Avatar of Loyalty?”

Rainbow Dash doesn’t know what she means by an Avatar of Loyalty but she guesses it has to do with the fact that she used bear the Element of Loyalty. “Yeah… your point?” asks Rainbow Dash still confused.

Death seems to ignore Rainbow Dash and pulls out a little white book with what some might consider a cute skull on it from her robes and start looking through it. After a few seconds of flicking through the pages it closes the book and puts it away.

“Rainbow Dash,” says Death, forever cheerful.

“What?” replies Rainbow Dash, scared of what’s coming.

“Would you like to make a deal?” asks Death.

“What kind of deal?” asks Rainbow Dash, now confused.

“I will give you just enough time back on Equis to complete your dream and get around to saying goodbye, if you do me a favour,” explains Death.

“What! You can do that?” asks Rainbow now hopeful but still confused.

“Yes I can. Will you accept?” asks Death.

“Yes I will,” yells Rainbow Dash, not even thinking about it.

Death chuckles, “Oh right here we go.” Death pulls out Rainbow Dash’s hourglass and flips it upside down. “Remember this Rainbow Dash,” warns Death, “That I cannot change fate! You were still stabbed by the branch and are still lying hospital. But doing this will mean that the doctors managed to save you and you managed to pull though.”

Rainbow Dash nods, then nearly falls over. She looks down and see that one of her legs seems to be melting. 

“WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME?!?!” she screams as more of her body begin to melt. She felt herself being sucked into the stand of light that connects herself to the other Rainbow Dash.

“You soul is being prepared to re-enter your body,” Death explains, “When I flip this hourglass back up you will enter the world of the living, understand?”

Rainbow can’t say anything back even if she wanted to, for most of her face has melted off. Most of her body is already sucked up by the stand of light. Only part of her head remains now.

“Also I should warn you that when you wake up you with be temporally paralysed while your soul sorts itself out,” Death continues to warn, “…Oh, and you won’t remember this meeting when you wake up.” With that Death flips the hourglass over…

And Rainbow Dash is reborn.
> Chapter 3 - Awaken (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash awoke. 

It is very dark. 

That is most likely because her eyes are closed, but she doesn’t feel like opening them… she actually doesn’t feel much of anything, much less her eyes. The only thing she can feel is her own heart beating in a steady rhythm.

Thump… Thump… Thump… Thump…

It’s very comforting for some reason. This silence and nothingness went on for some time until a new noise starts in rhythm with her heart.

Thump. Beep… Thump. Beep… Thump. Beep… Thump. Beep…

‘I wonder what that noise is?’ 

Soon she starts to hear new noises, like ponies talking. At first it doesn’t make sense, it is just jumbled noise. But soon words start to become clear.

“…So there nothing that can be done to help, Doctor?” asks a sad familiar voice.

‘That sound like Applejack.’

“Ah won’t sugar-coat for you Applejack because ah know you won’t like it,” comes gruff stallion voice with a Shetlandish accent. 

‘That must be the Doctor.’

“It will be a miracle if she pulls through at all,” continues the Doctor sadly, “We have done all we can, but the damage was very severe. The branch missed the ribs and went right in. It did a lot of damaged to her organs, but the worst was done to her heart. It was a miracle on its self that we stopped the internal bleeding. We nearly lost her twice during the operation and if the branch wasn’t so firmly stuck in there at first she would have died of blood loss on the way here.”

“I see,” says Applejack in a pained voice.

“It probably best to say your goodbyes just on the off chance,” suggests the Doctor, “Her heart may give up any moment.”

“Yes…” replies Applejack, “Thanks for everything.”

“Your welcome,” answers the Doctor, “Well I will leave you all alone. Call me if something happens.”

Rainbow Dash can hear the sound of hoofs walking away. As her hearing becomes clearer she starts to become aware of two other sounds beside her… the sound of crying.

“…sob… Rainbow Dash…” cries a familiar quite voice. 

“It is …sob… not fair…” cries another familiar loud voice.

‘That sounds like Fluttershy and Pinkie.’

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Rainbow Dash is going to be fine,” comes a familiar comforting voice with a sophisticated accent. 

‘That is definitely Rarity.’ 

“Yeah, I mean Rainbow Dash is pretty strong I’m sure she will pull through,” comes a familiar confident voice.”

‘And that must be Twilight,’ thinks Rainbow Dash.

“That …sob… not what one of the Doctors said,” cries Pinkie Pie, “They said that she going to die soon.”

“One of the surgeons …sob… even said …sob… that she is already dead …sob… but her heart just refuses to die,” wails Fluttershy.

The room stays silent beside the sound of crying.

“Come on, Rainbow Dash,” calls Applejack, sounding like she is about to cry herself, “Give us a sign that you are all right.”

She would love to tell them that she is alright, but her body won’t respond. She can’t even feel anything, just numbness. She can only continue to lay there for what must be hours. Doctors and nurses come in and out to check on Rainbow Dash, each one saying nothing positive. Until one nurse comes in.

“Can I get you girls anything?” comes an unfamiliar, but sweet and cheerful voice.

“Umm, no thanks,” says Twilight sadly to the nurse.

“Ok, do you mind if I check her equipment?” asks the nurse. There is the sound of shuffling as her friends must be moving out of the way. “Thank you.” There is the sound of a pony walking?... no skipping up beside her.

“Do you think she will be alright?” asks Pinkie hopefully, who has asked every single doctor or nurse that had come in the same question. But never getting definite answer yet.

The nurse gives a cheerful giggle, “I’m sure she will be fine.”

“Really!” says Pinkie happily.

“And how do you know that?” asks Twilight, less than impressed by this nurse’s behaviour.

“Oh, I’m just guessing,” the nurse say happily, “And I have never been wrong before.”

“Right,” says Twilight, annoyed by this nurse.

The nurse starts checking out Rainbow Dash equipment by the sound of it. She starts to sing a cheerful tune under her breath. 
Then a strange but familiar voice speaks in Rainbow Dash’s mind. “Time to wake up, Miss Dash.”

Some blue lights dances across her eyelids. She feels her heart start to speed up.

Thump. Beep. Thump. Beep. Thump. Beep. Thump. Beep. Thump. Beep. Thump. Beep. 

“Did the heartbeat thing just speed up?” asks Applejack, noticing the increases beeping.

Feeling starts to climb back up her legs and soon reaches her chest. She feels a huge stringing pain in her side, which luckily quickly fades. The feeling soon reaches her mouth. She lets out a pained groans.

“Rainbow Dash! Can you hear, Rainbow Dash!” cries a fanatic Fluttershy, hearing the groan.

“She just groaned! She just groaned!” yells Pinkie.

Feeling soon reaches the rest of her head and shows that she also has a splitting headache. She groans again and start to push herself up and opens her eyes. Which by the way feel as heavy as lead as does the rest of her body. The sight that greets her is a pair of pink eyes. 

“She is alive! She is alive! She is alive!” yells Pinkie, pulling back and starting to jump on the end of the bed.

Rainbow Dash is then assaulted by yellow pegasus giving her a tight hug.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy cries on her shoulder, “We thought you were going to die!”

“You really gave us quite the scare, dear,” adds Rarity joining the hug.

Soon all her friends were hugging her. Something runs down her cheek.

“Rainbow, you are crying?” asks Fluttershy quietly, looking up.

It is true. The tears pour unbidden down her face. She covers her eyes as if to stop tide of tears that fall from her face.

“What are you pain? Are we hurting you?” asks Twilight nervously.

“No, that not it,” Rainbow Dash cries, tears running down her cheeks, “I’m just happy to see you all!”

The unexpectant outburst surprises her friend, but smiling, tighten their hug on their crying friend as they all start to cry as well. Rainbow Dash doesn’t know why she feels like this, she just does. They hug long after their tears have stopped and don’t stop until a sound interrupts them.

“Ahem,” says a gruff voice behind her friends.

“Oh, Doctor Highland, your back,” says Twilight smiling, wiping the still wet tears from her eyes.

“Aye, I’m back,” says the Shetlandish sounding pony, which Rainbow Dash still can’t see yet because of her friends. “The nurse told me our young lass managed to pull a miracle, so I’m here.”

Her friends part to let the Doctor through. Rainbow Dash then bursts out laughing. She has never met a more Shetlandish pony before. His eyebrows were thick and also has a bit of a beard on his chin. His black mane is long and tied up in a ponytail at the back of his head. His body build is very large as well, about as big as Big Mac’s, he is also an Earth-Pony. His coat is white and his eyes were a light blue, which is strangely familiar… Also as well as the doctor’s overcoat he wore kilt and a tam o' shanter on his head… and he is also carrying a bagpipes around his neck.

“I hope you are not laughing at my kilt,” he warns as walks up to the laughing mare.

“I’m pretty sure you were not wearing any that before,” asks Applejack, trying to laugh herself.

“I was practicing me bagpipes when the nurse came and got me,” Doctor Highland explains.

“But the kilt and hat?” continues Applejack.

“Ah always wear them when I am practice my bagpipes!” he answers. He reaches Rainbow Dash (who is still laughing). “Your luckily to be alive, lass,” he says calmly. Rainbow doesn’t hear, because she is still laughing so hard, clutching at her sore chest. He continues to speak calmly, “Also I promise you if you keep laughing like that the next needles you get from me will be very painful.” This shuts Rainbow Dash up. No pony likes needles. “Now I gotta check your heart,” he says taking off his bagpipe and hat, handing them to someone behind Rainbow Dash’s friends. He then puts on his stethoscope, “Now lift up your shirt.” Rainbow Dash does, he places stethoscope on her chest. “That sound about right,” he says as he moves it about.

‘I wonder why it feels colder than usual?’ wonders Rainbow Dash, shivering slightly. She looks down and screams. A large part of her side and chest hair has been shaved. Blushing she knock away the stethoscope and covers her chest with the medical shirt. “What happened to my fur?!” she asks embarrassed.

“Don’t worry, they just had to remove some fur so they can operate on you,” explains Rarity, “I’m sure it will grow back… eventually.”

Rainbow Dash groans.

“Well your heart sounds fine now anyway,” says Doctor Highland, “But we will need to do some more tests later. But now all I think you need rest, sooo… visitors out! It past visitors hour anyway.”

“What!” cries Pinkie, “Can’t we stay a bit longer?”

“No! Now get out before I play my bagpipes!” he warns.

This got them moving. They all say their ‘Goodbyes’ and promises to visit soon and then leave, quickly. Soon it is just Rainbow Dash and the Doctor.

“Now get some sleep,” he suggested, “We will run the other tests tomorrow. Now I gotta look for that nurse, she got my bagpipes… and me hat.”

Rainbow Dash nods. The doctor giving her a slight smile, leaves the room to look for the nurse... and his bagpipes. Rainbow Dash flops back on her bed, instantly regretting it. Her chest hurts, that laughing before didn’t help either. She lifts up her shirt and looks for the wound. She found the long stitched up wound on her chest were they opened her up to operate. But that wasn’t were the branch came in? She continues to look for it and found it on her side. But what she sees causes her blood to freeze. For tattooed on her stitched up wound is an hourglass with two scythes crossed behind it. Suddenly she remembers everything. Her meeting with Death. The deal. Everything. She pulls the covers over her head. She had died, but now she is alive again…

‘I wonder for how long,’ she thinks, before sleep over takes her.
> Chapter 4 - Low on Time (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two Months Later

I watch as the ticking of the clock matches with the fall of the last bits of sands in my hourglass. As the last grain falls it rises its scythe ready to end my live as I lay dying on the hospital bed…

Rainbow Dash quickly closes the book and slumps backwards onto her bed. The first story she picks today just has to have Death in it, didn’t it. She puts the horror book back on the cart and looks through the rest. She has been reading a lot of books during her stay at the hospital, much to the surprise of her friends. They were even more surprised when she didn’t feel like reading the new Daring Doo. Her reason being that it has the Grim Reaper on background of the front cover. But she can’t tell them that. She seems to be noticing Death everywhere during her stay at the hospital. In books, pictures, everywhere, even one of the bloody nurses is wearing a pony skull necklaces. She doesn’t even need them to be reminded of Death, she just has to look at her side and see the mark. She feels luckily she has not seen the real Death yet, who yet to come for its favour. She has had nightmares about this favour. 

‘What favour can I give to Death?’ she thinks nervously as she continues to look through the books, ‘Will she ask for my soul? Or maybe my blood? Or will she ask to eat my flesh while I am alive so… so… I really should not have read that horror book!’

“Miss Dash?”

“AHHHHHH!” Rainbow Dash screams at the sudden voice. She looks at source and see that it is just her morning nurse, who is called Mors.

“Are you ok, Miss Dash?” she says, in her usual rather drowsy tone.

Mors is pegasus and isn’t much to look at, she is a slight bit taller than Twilight and is very thinly built. Her coat is white and so is her mane, which is nearly as long Fluttershy’s, only hundred times messier, it is also rather wavy. It always hangs over her face, so it makes it sometimes impossible to see her face. Rainbow Dash wonders how she can sometimes see at all? She always looks like she just woke up. She also always wears the full nurse’s uniform and a nurse’s hat… and also the bloody pony skull necklace, apparently a gift from her brother.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just reading a scary book,” replies Rainbow Dash sheepishly, “Soooo, what’s up.”

“I’m here to take you to the showers,” Mors explains, yawning, “You did ask for one at 9, remember.”

“Yeah, right, I did, didn’t I?” Rainbow says remembering, “So no tests today?”

“No tests,” Mors replies, “No more tests ever, we have finished.”

“What, really?” says Rainbow Dash surprised.

“Well it has been two months,” Mors replies, pushing a wheelchair to the side of Rainbow Dash’s Hospital bed.

‘And so it has,’ she thinks as she is helped into the wheelchair and then wheeled off. She has spent two months in hospital. It has been much interesting than one of her other stays. For one, nearly once every two days they took her away to do a test or two to see how her heart and other organs that were damaged are doing. And when she doesn’t have tests she has visitors. Her friends visit nearly every day, sometimes even twice! Her family visited the morning after she woke up from her operation, coming right from Cloudsdale as soon they heard the news about her accident. Her Mother came crashing in, crying her eyes out thinking that she has died and then her father saying that they thought they were going to pick up a body. They then visited her once every week over the following months. Other ponies came and visited her as well. The Cutie Mark Crusader(mostly Scootaloo) came a lot, other members of the Weather Patrol visited regularly and other ponies came as well. Her bedside table is full of get well cards and presents, but they just help remind her that she did almost die. But the thing Rainbow Dash hates the most about all these visitors, is the look of relief that pass over their faces when they see her. Like they expected her to be dead or something. What hell are they saying behind her back? She never said to them anything and pretended not to notice. And also whenever she see the door open she always expects a pony covered in a black hooded robe. 

“Here we are, Miss Dash,” Mors says, breaking Rainbow Dash out of thoughts.

Rainbow Dash quickly jumps off the wheelchair before Mors can help her off and heads into the bathroom, leaving Mors to wait outside. Inside Rainbow Dash removes the bandages covering her chest and throwing them into the bin. A bit of her fur has grown back, no longer leaving her skin completely naked, but it still has got a long way to go. As the last of the bandages fall the mark appears. The two crossed scythes and an hourglass in front. As she observes the mark she suddenly hears a sound by the bathroom window. She looks up at the window, there seems to be something on the other side? She climbs on top of a bench looks outside(Because she is not allowed to fly yet). She is greeted by a raven looking back at her. It seems to have something tried to its leg. 

‘Maybe the raven belongs to Fluttershy,’ she thinks, as she opens the window. 

It flies in and lands on her outstretched hoof. It is a very well looked after raven, its feathers are clean and looks very healthy as far as Rainbow Dash can see. She removes the note carefully. As soon as she does the raven jumps off her hoof and lands on top the shower nozzle. Frowning at the raven Rainbow Dash unrolls the message and reads it.

“We will meet soon,” it reads. It was sighed with the mark that is on her.

Rainbow falls to her knees, shivering. It will be coming soon. Suddenly there is a knocking at the door. Rainbow Dash falls off the bench and crawls into the corner. Is it here? Has it come already?

“Miss Dash, are you alright? I haven’t heard the sound of running water?” calls the tired voice from the other side of the door.

It is Mors. Rainbow Dash feels huge relief at the realization. The door opens and Mors trots in. The raven lets out a cry, startling Rainbow Dash and Mors. It then swoops Rainbow Dash, snatching the note and then flying out the window.

“WHAT IN THE SIX PLANES!” yells Mors, “What in Tartarus is that raven doing in here?” she then notices Rainbow Dash shivering in the corner, “Are you alright, Miss Dash?.... Do you have Ornithophobia?”

“Huh, what’s Ornithophobia?” Rainbow Dash, temporally distracted from her fears by the weird question.

“Fear of Birds,” Mors states flatly.

“Oh. No I don’t have that,” replies Rainbow Dash quickly.

“Hmm,” says Mors, looking around the room, “How did it get in?”

“I think the window was open,” Rainbow Dash lies.

“Tsk,” Mors clicks her tongue in irritation, “We going to have to use a different shower, this one may be dirty. Argh, now I have to walk further!”

Rainbow Dash just nods, happy that she is not questioning her further and follows Mors into the hallway and back onto her wheel chair. Who then wheels her to another shower. That went uneventfully this time, except when Mors fell asleep outside on the wheelchair while Rainbow Dash was having her shower, she then spent the next 10 minutes waking Mors up. Afterwards she wheeled Rainbow Dash back to her room. Where Doctor Highlander is waiting.

“Ah Miss Dash, back from your shower?” he asks calmly in his usual Shetlandish accent, “I hear you had some trouble with some bird?”

“Yeah, but it is good now, Ankou,” she says, using his name instead of his family one.

“Hmm,” he says, as he watches Rainbow Dash get back onto her bed, “Nurse you can leave us now.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Mors says, yawning and wheeling the wheelchair out.

Soon Rainbow Dash and Doctor Highlander are alone.

“She pretty lazy isn’t she,” Rainbow Dash says, quietly.

“She is fine in the afternoon,” he says, as he flips through some papers, “It’s only in the morning she has trouble. Also did she tell you that we have finished the tests we were running?” he says, examining a piece of paper.

“Yeah, she did,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“Yes, while the injury luckily won’t impair any of your abilities, like flying, running or eating…” he pause, as he seems to think over what next to say, “But there are complications.”

“What complications?” says Rainbow Dash nervously.

He seems to think for a while and then sighs, “Did what me to tell you now or later when you’re more ready?”

“No, please just tell me,” she says, urgently. 

“Then I will give it to you straight, Miss Dash. Your lifespan has been severely shortened,” he states

“What?” says Rainbow confused.

“I mean your heart will stop working sooner than most,” he explains.

“Can’t it be fixed?” asks Rainbow Dash scared.

“Not with today’s medicines,” he says sadly, “We can only delay it with medicines and a healthy lifestyle.”

Rainbow Dash flops backward on her bed and stares at ceiling. “How long do you think I have left then?” she asks, flatly.

“You will be luckily to live for a decade,” he states, “But if I would have to guess though am pretty sure you will live last past eight though.”

“So I have eight to ten years left?” she says.

“Most likely,” he says, hanging his head, “Do you want us to tell your family for you?”

“No,” she says quickly, sitting up, “And don’t tell my friends either, not even Twilight.”

“Don’t worry we won’t,” he says calmly, “But you will have to tell them someday. I do not want to have to suddenly explain myself if you drop dead.”

“Ok,” she says flatly, “I would like to be by myself for a while.” 

“Of course, this is a lot to take in,” he says starting to leave the room. He stops by the door, “Also we can release you tomorrow, so I will need you to sign some things later.” He is about to leave again when he stops again, “Also we can send someone to look after for a while in case of unforeseen complications if you want.” And with that he leaves her alone.

Rainbow Dash lays on her bed, looking at ceiling. Her head flops sideways and she looks out the window. The raven is there. Looking back at her.

“Just enough time, right,” she says quietly.

The raven seems to nod and then taking flight disappears out of view.
> Chapter 5 - Reunion (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash sat in front of a large desk, belonging to Doctor Highlander. While the stallion works though some paper work. There is his name plate saying ‘Doctor Ankou Highlander’, also there is his tam o' shanter, a pipe and an hourglass as well. She watches as the sand runs through it.

“Like watching hourglasses?” asks Doctor Highlander, in his usual Shetlandish accent. “I brought that from Twilight at the Trash and Grab a bit before your accident.”

Rainbow Dash just nods not really paying attention.

“Well, the paper work done,” he says, stacking the paper together, “I see you also agreed to have one of the staff watch over.”

“Yeah, well better be safe than sorry,” she says, giving a weak smile.

“Well, we have a member of our staff you has agreed to look after you during her leave,” he explains, “And don’t worry she’s a pegasus as well.”

“That nice of her,” Rainbow Dash says, surprised, “Who is she.”

“Well she’s…” his sentence is interrupted by somepony knocking on the door. “Ah that must be her. Come in!”

The door opens and a tall female pegasus walks in. 

“Hi I’m Rainbow Dash and you are?”

She giggles, “Don’t you recognise me, Miss Dash. It is me, Mors.”

She is right, she didn’t recognise Mors. Her usual messy and wavy hair is combed back away from her face, showing her ice blue eyes. Rainbow Dash can now see that her face is actually rather well shaped and pretty. She is also wearing mascara, giving her eyes a dark edge and a very cute black summer dress.

“Is everything alright, Miss Dash,” asks Doctor Highlander.

“What? Oh, yes fine. What happened to your usual look?” asks Rainbow Dash confused, pulling her eyes away from Mors.

“My usual look?” replies Mors, tilting her head.

“I mean your hair it’s usually all over your face and… and stuff…” Rainbow Dash rambles, making a fool of herself.

Luckily Doctor Highlander saves her from herself by saying, “She means why you always looked like you just got out of bed.”

“Oh,” says Mors smiling, “I’m never very good in the morning and I’m always usual half asleep.”

“Yeah, it’s amazing,” says Doctor Highlander, shaking his head, “At 11 a’clock she looks half dead and at 1 she’s like this.”

“I see,” Rainbow Dash says, confused slightly. “So what about flying? Can I fly again?” changing the subject.

“Sort of,” he says, waving his hoof in a vague gesture, “You’re allowed to fly around, BUT no speed or stunt flying yet! We don’t want you to over exert yourself.”

Rainbow Dash groans, “Argh, for how long?”

“We want you to come back in a week’s time and have a check-up, and if everything checks out you can start flying normally again.”

Rainbow Dash sighs, at least it is only for a week. She hops off the seats and stands by the desk. “So are we done?” she asks eager to go. 

“Not quite. Here,” he says, handing her a few pieces of paper, “The list of medicines you have to take, and I also gave you the prescriptions for them. Also on the list are the times and dates when you have to take each one. I can run them through you if you want?”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widen as she looks through the long list of medicines. “Do I really need to take all of this? I mean what are they all for?”

“They are mostly for your heart,” he explains calmly, crossing his front hooves, “You must not forget to take them. It may cause problems if you suddenly stopped taking them.”

“So I will have to keep taking all of these for the rest of my life?” she asks, shocked.

“I wouldn’t think so,” he says, uncross his hooves and getting off his chair, “With how fast modern medicine is advancing I wouldn’t be surprised if that medicine list is cut in half in the next few years.”

“If am alive for that long,” she says glumly.

“Don’t worry, Miss Dash,” says Mors cheerfully, who has been silent so far, “I will make sure you get all of your medicine on time.”

Rainbow Dash learns over to whisper in Highlander’s ear, “Does she know about the whole dying thing?”

“Yeah of course,” he says, not whispering, “She needed to know if she is going to watch over you.”

Rainbow Dash looks at Mors who gives her a board smile. Rainbow Dash sighs, “Well if that’s all can I go?”

“Of course, Miss Dash, “says Doctor Highlander, opening the door for her, “And if you run out of medicine, just come and see me and we will sort you out. See you next week.”

“Thanks, see ya,” Rainbow Dash says, walking through the door and down the hallway, followed by a skipping Mors.





Rainbow Dash walks out of the hospital’s doors followed by the still skipping Mors. A cool breeze blows past, causing the shirt she wears to hide her still slightly shaven chest to stick to her. She takes in a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. The warm sun starts warming her up. It is all a wonderful feeling. Too bad Mors broke it by bumping into her.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you stop,” she says, smiling and rubbing her nose.

Rainbow Dash sighs, she seems to be doing it a lot these days. “You seems act a lot like Pinkie Pie,” she states to the nurse.

“Who is Pinkie Pie?” she asks confused.

Rainbow Dash is about to answer when she is tackled by a pink missile.

“Rainbow Dash you finally got out,” says Pinkie Pie, in a way that sounded like Rainbow Dash had just got released from jail.

“Pinkie get off her!” yells a voice from behind Pinkie, “She might still be healing.”

Pinkie hops off and reveals the rest of Rainbow Dash’s friends.

“We came to meet you,” says Twilight smiling. Her expression suddenly turns slightly sours when she sees Mors. “What is she doing here?” she says in a slightly rude voice.

Everyone else’s expression turns weird upon seeing Mors as well… except Pinkie who breaks into a huge smile.

“Wow, you’re the pony who said that Rainbow Dash is going to be alright and she was… are you psychic?” Pinkie says, hoping around Mors.

“I don’t know?” says Mors, with a puzzled expression.

“What’s going on? What is she talking about?” asks Rainbow Dash, confused again.

“This nurse was the last one to tend to you before you woke up from your operation,” says Twilight bitterly, “She acted in a totally inappropriate manner. She even sang ‘Always look on the Bright Side of Life’ while you were still unconscious!”

‘So that was the song, I wondered what it was,’ thinks Rainbow Dash, ‘So Mors was the nurse, huh. Figures, their voices were similar now that I remember.’

“Who are you by the way?” asks Rarity in a polite tone.

“Girls,” Rainbow Dash says, stepping between her friends and Mors, “This is Mors, my morning nurse, remember?”

Her friend all gave her blank looks.

“No way, you’re pulling my leg,” says Applejack, laughing it off, “No way she is that dopey mare that looks like she just crawled out of bed.”

“No I am telling you she is,” says Rainbow Dash embarrassed.

“Is this better?” says a sleepy voice behind Rainbow Dash.

They all look behind Rainbow Dash (including aforementioned pony) and see that Mors has transformed back to her morning form. Her hair hanging all over her face, her head also hanging low.

Rainbow Dash’s friends all have looks of confusion, shock or both on their faces. It amazing how ones hair and posture can make a pony look so total different.

Somepony starts laughing. It is Mors. Her shoulders are shaking and with one hoof parts her hair away from her face. “The looks on your faces are hilarious,” she say, nearly unable to speak because of laughter.

Rainbow Dash finds herself blushing slightly. It is a very nice laugh. It is carefree, joyful and childish. It a laugh that can only be achieve if the pony is happy and unburden in this world. 

“You have a nice laugh,” says Pinkie, standing in front of Mors.

“Thanks…” Mors says, wiping a tear from her eye, “You’re Pinkie, right?”

“Yep, yep,” says Pinkie happily.

“Rainbow Dash says I’m like you,” states Mors.

“Really?” Pinkie says surprised. She starts to examine Mors closely. “She is not like me silly,” she says, turning to Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, silly,” agrees Mors.

Rainbow Dash gives an exasperated sigh and turns to her friends who give her a sympathetic look. “Look, it great seeing you all but I kinda wanna get home and rest… and also check on Tank,” she says, yawning.

“It’s ok, I understand,” says Twilight smiling.

“And don’t worry I have been looking after Tank for you,” adds Fluttershy.

“Also later you have to come over later to talk about your ‘I’m All Better’ party,” says Pinkie quickly, “It will be awesome.”

“Yeah sure, Pinkie,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“Also come over to my boutique later and I will make you some more shirts,” offers Rarity, who made the shirt that Rainbow Dash is wearing.

“Thanks, Rares,” Rainbow Dash says, adjusting her shirt, “Well, see ya.” And with that she flies off, followed by Mors.





Rainbow glides through the air. The wind whipping past her hair. It is an awesome feeling. She starts speeding up… until somepony grabs her tail.

“OUCH!!” she yelps, she turns around and sees that Mors has grabbed her tail with her mouth, “What was that for?!”

“You’re not allow to overexert yourself, remember,” Mors says. Well at least that what Rainbow Dash thinks she said, it’s kind of hard tell when she has somepony’s tail in her mouth.

“Alright, I get it. Just let go,” Rainbow Dash says, angrily. Mors does and smiling flies beside Rainbow Dash.

“I’m sorry how my friends acted before,” Rainbow Dash says, facing the white mare.

“Oh don’t worry about it,” Mors says smiling, “It is true, I’m not a very good nurse.”

“Well you took good care of me,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, I’m alright at the nursing part, just at the acting like a nurse,” Mors says giggling, “I’m always too tired or too cheerful, so I annoy a lot of ponies.”

“Well you never annoyed me,” replies Rainbow Dash, “I always thought you were kinda fun.”

“Thanks Miss Dash,” Mors says, with a big grin, “That means a lot coming from you.”

“Really?” says Rainbow Dash confused. ‘I wonder why?’ she thinks.

“So are you sure you don’t mind me staying at your house?” asks Mors, giving her questioning look.

“Yeah I don’t mind. It would be kinda like having a roommate… you can you cook though?” Rainbow Dash jokes.

“Yep,” Mors says, not getting the joke, “I was taught by a very good teacher.”

“Really?” says Rainbow Dash, surprised by this. “Oh there’s my house,” she says, pointing to it.

Soon they reach her house. Landing on the porch Rainbow Dash walks through the front door and finds Tank waiting for her and on his back is her alarm clock also waiting for her.

“Did you guys miss me,” she says, nuzzling Tank and… patting the alarm clock. The alarm clock rings happily and dashes off back up stair to her room. She shakes her head, she doesn’t know what to think about that alarm clock sometimes. Tank then seems to walk off back to the living room.

“Nice house,” says Mors, walking in and looking about.

“Thanks,” says Rainbow Dash, “The spare room is at the end of the upstairs hallway.”

“Ok,” says Mors putting down her bag.

“Well call me if something happens, I’m gonna take a nap,” Rainbow Dash says, yawning and heading for the stairs.

“Wait! We need to talk!” Mors says franticly.

“Can it wait until later,” replies Rainbow Dash, still heading for the stairs.

“It’s really important!” Mors warns.

“Argh, what is…” Rainbow Dash pauses as it seems Mors is undressing. 

She is undoing the buttons on her summer dress. Rainbow Dash blushes. Even though ponies are always usually naked the act of taking off ones clothe in front of some other pony is still embarrassing… and sometimes erotic. The dress slips over her head, revealing a perfectly formed body. She cast away the dress and starts to take slow deliberate steps toward Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash feels frozen as this beautiful mare walks toward her. Rainbow Dash’s eyes look over the mare, her body is flawless. Tall and well-shaped, every curve is in the right place, her legs are long and thin but not too thin, she could almost be a painting. She then sees Mors’s cutie mark… for the first time. 

It is an hourglass with two scythes crossed behind it.

It is Death’s mark. She looks up at Mors face. She now has a creepy smile on her face and her eyes also seems to be glowing a bright blue.

“Come on Rainbow Dash, we need to talk,” Mors says in a weird echoing voice.

Rainbow Dash turns to run up the stairs only to find Death’s Scythe blade blocking the way. She turns back to find Mors holding the handle of the scythe. On her shoulder is the black raven. Using the scythe she draws Rainbow Dash closer, until they are face to face.

“Now Miss Dash, we need to talk about the favour.”
> Chapter 6 - Favour (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Now Miss Dash, we need to talk about the favour,” says Mors… no Death, as she holds Rainbow Dash still with her scythe. The raven on Death’s shoulder gives a cold stare.

Rainbow Dash can’t believe it. Mors was Death all along, the sleepy mare is the one pony that Rainbow Dash fears and the one that sent that raven… unless.

“What happened to the real Mors?” asks Rainbow Dash defiantly, “Did you kill her and take her place?”

Death looks shocked. Did Rainbow Dash hit the bullseye? Then she laughs and laughs.

“No, Mors never really existed. She is just my alias,” Death says, wiping a tear from her eye. “You can call me Mors if you want, actually I would like it better if you would.”

“But why?” Rainbow Dash says, confused as all hell, “Why did you hide as nurse?”

“So we could get to know each other,” Death states, smiling.

“Huh! Why!” Rainbow Dash says, even more confused.

“Because of my favour,” Death says, leaning in closer.

“What’s the favour then?” asks Rainbow Dash, leaning back.

Death right next to Rainbow Dash’s ear says quietly, “I want you to teach and let me experience… Friendship.” With that Mors leans away and dissolved her scythe. “I think I will start making dinner now,” she says, heading for the kitchen, leaving a bewildered Rainbow Dash behind.

“Wait, what do you mean by Friendship, Death?” asks Rainbow Dash, chasing after Death.

“Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between two or more people,” says Death, putting on an apron with help from the raven, “Also can you not call me Death. Call me Mors.”

“Fine. But that explanation doesn’t help and doesn’t explain why you want to know about Friendship?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“What else could I ask for? I mean what else can you give me?” asks Death… no Mors, giving her a questioning look.

“I thought you would want something creepy like my blood, soul or… body…” Rainbow Dash says blushing at the last one.

Mors looks confused, “Why would I want any of that? My job is to guide souls to the afterlife not take them and I already have a body of my own, with blood included.”

“But that still doesn’t explain why Friendship?” continues Rainbow Dash, annoyed. Mors doesn’t seems to understand what she meant.

“There is nothing that mortals can give me that I don’t have or can get,” Mors says, getting something out of the fridge, “The only thing mortals have that I don’t is that they live and die.”

“Still don’t getting it,” states Rainbow Dash.

Mors sighs and then giving her a small smile says, “I want to know what it is to become alive. I want to experience things that only the living can do. Over the centuries I have made deals with many mortals to help me experience these thing, like eating, sleeping, fighting, singing and other things as well.”

“But why me?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Who better than one of the once holders of the Elements of Harmony,” Mors says, smiling chopping up an onion delivered by the raven, “I thought I was very lucky when I happen to find one soul that could help learn about friendship.”

“Yeah lucky,” say Rainbow Dash, bitterly.

Mors looks embarrassed. “Sorry. Also you don’t have to worry if we can’t become friends,” she says, now cutting up a carrot that the raven also delivered before settling on top of the fridge, “It won’t validate our deal or anything.”

“That good to know… wait if all you wanted was friendship why in Tartarus did you pull your scythe on me?” Rainbow Dash says, now remembering.

“Because you looked like you were going to run away,” Mors says, smiling again.

“Because you had a weird look on your face and I just found out about that you were Death!” yells Rainbow Dash.

“And?” says Mors, not getting.

Rainbow Dash does a facehoof can she really be this native? Does she know how scary Death is? Removing the hoof from her face she finally notices what Mors actually is doing, “Wait, you can cook?”

“Yeah, I did say so before,” Mors says, looking through some of the cupboards.

“But that was when you were pretending to be Mors?” says Rainbow Dash.

“I am Mors!” she says, annoyed.

“But why would Death need to cook… unless you need to eat,” asks Rainbow Dash, curious.

“No, I don’t need to eat,” Mors says, with a laugh.

“Then why?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Because I wanted to,” says Mors, rubbing the back of her neck, “It looked interesting, so I asked somepony to teach me.”

“Really?” says Rainbow Dash. She then yawns, releasing she is pretty tired. “Well I am going to take a nap, call me when it’s dinner.”

“Wait, I have a question,” Mors says, appearing in front of Rainbow Dash surprising her, “Why didn’t you say anything to your friends about your shortened lifespan?”

Rainbow Dash surprised face changes into an awkward smile, “Well, I didn’t want them to worry. I mean I still got about ten years, right, that a lot of time. I mean I just got out of hospital and I don’t want anything to change between us or anything.”

Mors frowns not understanding Rainbow Dash reasons, “Then why are you taking this so well? Only yesterday you were told that your lifespan is shortened and yet you remain so calm?”

Rainbow Dash gives a tired smile, “Because I have already died remember? This life I live now is a gift, and I am not going to waste it by grieving about what I have already lost.”

Mors looks shocked and then she starts to give a gentle smile, “Yes, you should do that and I’m sure that when you leave this world it will be with no regrets.” With that Mors disappears and reappears in the kitchen, briefly surprising Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash turns to smile at the Pale pony and who then waves her off, Rainbow Dash then heads to bed for a nap.





Rainbow Dash sat in front of a steaming bowl of soup, while on the other side of the dinning table Mors sat head in hooves, watching her.

“So this is safe to eat, right?” asks Rainbow Dash, cautiously, “I mean what’s in it.”

“Just vegetables and seasoning,” sighs Mors.

Rainbow Dash looks down at the bowl. It looks normal but it is a soup made by Death. She picks up the spoon and takes a small sip. To her surprise it tastes very good, even excellent.

“This soap is amazing, Mors!” Rainbow Dash says, taking another sip, “It is the best soap I have ever tasted.”

“Thanks, my teacher would be happy to hear that,” says Mors, smiling.

As Rainbow Dash digs into her meal she notices a book on the table. She picks it up, it reads, ‘Archimagirus Cookbook, By Archimagirus.’ It had a pretty boring cover, made of leather with no pictures, with only had its title to decorate it. She opens the front page and sees written on it, ‘Dedicated to my dear pupil.’

“Do you like looking at other ponies stuff?” asks Mors, happily.

“Oh sorry,” Rainbow Dash says, handing the book to Mors, “So this Archimagirus, was he your teacher?”

“Yeah, he was,” says Mors, who then gives Rainbow Dash an expectant look.

“Well ummm… am sure he would be very proud of you for… making this,” Rainbow Dash says, not sure what Mors wants her to say.

Mors looks surprised and then laughs. Rainbow Dash blushes. Mors really has a nice laugh. “I guess you have never heard of Archimagirus,” she says wiping the tears out of her eyes.

“No, should I?” asks Rainbow Dash, confused. 

“No, it doesn’t really matter,” says Mors, giggling.

Rainbow Dash looks confused for a moment and then shrugs. After she finishes her soap, Mors comes and takes the bowl away. Then Rainbow Dash notices something, “Aren’t you going to have some?”

“No, I don’t really need to eat,” Mors says, smiling, “I much prefer to make others food than to eat myself anyway.” After saying that Mors continues to the kitchen. After dropping off the dishes, she notices the still open box of chocolates from Rainbow Dash’s last coltfriend.

“Oh sorry,” says Rainbow Dash, noticing what Mors is looking at, “I already ate them all.”

“No. There is still one more,” Mors says, reaching down and picking up a chocolate that Rainbow Dash must have missed and popped it into her mouth. Mors frowns as she eats the chocolate, “This chocolate tastes of regret, sadness and depression?”

Rainbow Dash freezes when she hears this. She is basically describing what she felt when she broke up with her coltfriend.

“The pony that made these must really hate their job,” Mors says, swallowing the chocolate.

Rainbow Dash sighs in relief. She didn’t get that it was her feelings… wait what, sensing feelings?

“Mors can you sense what others are feeling?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“No, but I can read feeling that were left behind by somepony,” explains Mors, smiling.

“I see,” Rainbow Dash says, slightly weirded out, “Well I think I will hit the hay.”

“I think I will too after I do the dishes,” says Mors, smiling.

“No. Just leave it and I will do them in the morning,” says Rainbow Dash, not wanting to be spoiled.

“Are you sure? I mean I don’t mind,” says Mors, looking slightly nervous.

“Nah, it will be fine,” Rainbow Dash says, waving it off.

“Well then, I guess I will retire too,” Mors says, smiling as she leaves the room. As she walks past Rainbow Dash notices that the raven is now suddenly sitting on her back.

‘One day I will have to ask her about that raven,’ thinks Rainbow Dash, as she follows Mors upstairs to her own bed.





Rainbow Dash lies on her bed. Her mind full of thoughts of Death/Mors. She isn’t anything like she imagined, she isn’t evil or cruel. She just like a normal pony… or maybe not. She is kind, good-natured, outgoing and maybe even slightly naive, but in the end that just makes her more likeable. She only had one problem, that she is Death. She wonders if she can become friends with her. With those thoughts in mind she falls asleep.

While in the spare room Mors gets out of bed. She puts on her robe and then grabbing her scythe disappears to reap the souls of the todays fallen.
> Interlude 1 - The Dog
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dog dies peacefully, laying on the vets table while his owner pats him. It had been a good life for him for this dog. Lots of walks, pats, treats and a warm bed. He had a good family who loved him and treated him well. He will pass with no regrets with only with the wish that he could stay with his owners forever, but that is impossible and he knows it, so never mind.

He wakes up in the total blackness of limbo. He wags his tail uncertainly.

“Hello there,” says a voice behind him.

He turns around and sees to his delight a pony in a black hooded robe holding a staff. He walks over and starts sniffing its legs. After inspecting the pony he sits down uncaring in front of the pony and wags his tail and gives a quick bark. 

“You are such a good boy,” says the hooded pony, reaching out a hoof to pat the dog, which he happily accepts, “Your owners will most surely miss you already.”

The dog rolls over, not understanding what the pony said, just wanting to get his belly rubbed. Which the hooded pony does. The dog makes a happy growling noise.

The pony hates to reap pets like this. It can’t imagine what the owners must feel like, and they are mostly all pretty innocent, never doing anything wrong in their life. But it is its duty to reap the souls of all, no matter who or what it is, so it must. It stops rubbing the dog’s chest and releases the scythe blade from her staff. The dog seeing the rubbing has stopped, sits up, waiting there expectantly for more pats or maybe a walk. Death hates this even more when the pet looks up at you with those big trusting eyes, unknowing what is to come. At least sentient mortals know what is to come. Giving the dog’s head a quick rub, it swigs its scythe, severing his last connection to life.

The dog stops breathing. The owner cries losing one of his best friends forever.

Death now stands alone in the darkness until its raven flies down and lands on its shoulder. It pats it head glad that it can’t die. With these thoughts it walks off. It has many other souls to reap, for it is its duty to, no matter how painful it may be.
> Chapter 7 - Morning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The suns starts to peek through Rainbow Dash’s bedroom window, assaulting Rainbow Dash’s eyes. She pulls the covers over her head. It feels good to be back in her own bed... until her alarm clock goes off. She slams her hoof down on the bedside table and only got pain for her troubles. She sticks her head out of her covers to see that the alarm clock is sitting on her dresser on the other side of room. Groaning she gets out of bed and hits the off button. She sees a note she left for herself, reminding her to take her pills. Groaning again she throws a few pills into her mouth, washing them down with a glass of water. She notices that the alarm has run back to her bedside table.

“I gotta ask Twilight about that alarm,” she says to herself, pulling on a shirt to cover her still slightly shaven chest.

As she leaves her room and wonders what she is going to do today. She can’t practice flying sadly and she has already been woken up so that removes two options. She could see Rarity and get some more shirts, or see Pinkie about the party or… She notices a pony resting its head against the hallway’s wall. It’s Mors. It looks like she just got out of her bathroom and then fell asleep, she even has a toothbrush in her mouth.

“Are you ok, Mors?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Yes brother, I have done my reaping…” Mors mumbles.

“What are you talking about? Hey, wake up!” yells Rainbow Dash, while shaking Mors.

“Huh, what?” Mors says, waking up. She looks at Rainbow Dash, her hair hanging over face. “Oh, hey, Rainbow Dash, you’re up too?”

“Yes, but it seems you’re not,” comments Rainbow Dash. Mors walks into the bathroom and spit out the toothbrush.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Mors says, waving her hoof dismissively, “I will go and make Breakfast.”

Rainbow Dash watches as Mors heads towards the stairs. “Are you sure you are Death?” she asks.

“Yeah, of course,” Mors says… before she fell down the stairs.

“Oh no!” Rainbow Dash yells, rushing to the stairs, “Are you ok?” She looks over the stairs and sees Mors laughing.

“Ow, it hurts!” Mors says, between laughs.

“Are you ok?” Rainbow Dash repeats, wondering if Mors has gone insane… or was always insane.

“I will be …hic… fine in a…hic…  minute,” Mors says, starting to hiccup.

After a few seconds of laughing and hiccupping, Mors finally stops and gets back on her hoofs all smiles, the fall has woken her up.

“Ok, care to explain that?” asks Rainbow Dash again.

“Sorry,” Mors says sheepishly, “I have trouble showing outward negative emotions, so I usually just laugh when I’m in pain or I’m crying.”

“Right… that must cause troubles,” Rainbow Dash says, slowly.

“Well, I can’t help how I was created.” 

Rainbow Dash can’t help think there is something wrong with that sentence. “Don’t you mean ‘We all can’t help how we were created?’” she corrects.

“Nope, you were born, I was created,” Mors says smiling, “Well off to make breakfast.”

Rainbow Dash can’t help the feeling that she just drew a line, reminding her that their different. Shrugging it off she catches up with Mors.

“Wait, let me make breakfast for us,” offers Rainbow Dash.

Mors looks confused, “But why, I don’t need to eat, remember? Only you do,” she says, still smiling.

Actually Rainbow Dash had forgotten, but she isn’t going to tell her. “Well, you don’t need to make me all my meals, I mean you are not my maid or anything.”

“But I got to do something?” Mors says, disappointed.

“Look, I don’t really feel like breakfast anyway,” Rainbow Dash says, rubbing her neck, “So I will just grab an apple to eat and then we can go for a walk.”

“Oh, ok,” Mors says, her smile widening, “So what will we do?”

“Well I need to go see Rarity and Pinkie about somethings,” Rainbow Dash lists off, “But I would also like to visit the rest of my friends as well.”

“Sound fun!” Mors says, happily.

“What, really?” Rainbow Dash says, confused.

“Yeah!” states Mors, grinning, “Anything is fun when I do it with you!”

Rainbow Dash blushes slightly. Could Mors mean… no she just hopefully naïve.

“Is that so?” says Rainbow Dash, collecting herself.

“Yes, because Rainbow Dash is my friend.”

Rainbow Dash frowns. She feels an odd feeling with the word ‘friend’.

“You know just because I agreed to your deal doesn’t mean we are friends yet,” explains Rainbow Dash.

“So how do we become friends then?” Mors asks, her smile not fading.

“Well we gotta hangout first and if we enjoy each other company then we might start to become friends,” says Rainbow Dash, wondering if she is explaining it right.

Mors tilts her head, “Yeah, I guess that make sense… anyway I wasn’t really serious when I called you a friend. I just wanted to try saying it.”

“You’re weird,” replies Rainbow Dash, grabbing an apple and her bag and heading for the door.

“But I never got to say it properly before,” Mors says, following Rainbow Dash.





Rainbow Dash walks down the path to Ponyville. She had decided to walk to Ponyville, because flying is too much of a temptation to fly fast. She turns her attention to the mare behind her, who is skipping and wearing blue summer dress to hide her Cutie Mark. How come Mors never had friends before? She is likeable enough and is fun to be around… a lot like Pinkie Pie. She and Mors could become friends easily. If not for the fact that she is Death. 

“Look Mors, when we are in Ponyville you can’t tell anypony that you are Death,” states Rainbow Dash.

“Ok,” Mors replies.

Rainbow Dash frowns. Did she really get it? Well she did managed to stay undiscovered while working at the hospital.

As they enter town, Rainbow Dash sees the local mailmare doing her rounds.

“Hi Derpy,” calls Rainbow Dash.

Derpy turns and waves at the two ponies. “Hi Rainbow Dash, Hi Mors,” she yells back.

“Hi Derpy,” Mors says, smiling, “How’s the filly?”

“Dinky is fine. Thanks for asking,” replies Derpy, walking up to the two ponies, “I hear you just got out of hospital, Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah, just yesterday,” answers Rainbow Dash, feeling that something is off.

“Well I hope you are all better now,” Derpy says, patting Rainbow Dash’s back, “Well I gotta finish my mail run, see ya.”

With that she takes off, nearly hitting a tree. Rainbow Dash turns to Mors.

“You know Derpy?” she asks, curious.

“Nope,” Mors says, smiling, “This is the first time we met.” With that she skips past Rainbow Dash further into town.

“Wait, what?”





Soon Rainbow Dash and Mors stood outside Carousel Boutique.

“Now most of my friends don’t know what to think about you yet so please be careful,” warns Rainbow Dash, knocking on the door.

“Ok,” Mors says, smiling.

The door suddenly opens and Rarity stood there with a grin.

“Please come in,” Rarity say, cheerfully.

“Umm, thank you,” Rainbow Dash say, not expecting this. She expect her to be a bit more hesitant around Mors.

“Thanks Rarity,” Mors says, skipping in, followed by Rainbow Dash… more sedatly.

Once inside Rarity turns and faces Mors.

“I see you are wearing that wonderful dress I suggested, dear,” Rarity says, giddy.

“I know right, at first I was a bit worried it wouldn’t suit me but it does!” Mors says, squealing.

“I told you it would suit you, it show off curves wonderfully but it not too showy,” Rarity responds, enthusiastically.

“Umm, what’s going on?” Rainbow Dash says, totally confused.

“Oh sorry, Dash, you came to get some shirts,” Rarity says, coming to Rainbow Dash’s side and pulling her away.

“Wait, what were you two talking about?” 

“Oh, just something you wouldn’t understand,” Rarity says, giggling, as she drags Rainbow Dash off. “Also we must have tea and catch up sometime, dear,” Rarity calls at Mors, before Rainbow Dash and Mors disappears behind a door.

Mors just smiles and nods as they leave the room. When she is alone the smile fades and she cast her head down, the room suddenly going cold.





“Ok, care to explain when you became pals with Rarity?” asks Rainbow Dash, as the two of them walk away from Carousel Boutique. Rainbow Dash’s bag full of new shirts.

“Oh, we are not,” Mors says, smiling, “This is the first time we had that long of a conversation.”

Rainbow Dash is about to question her more about, when a pink head appears in front of her, startling her.

“Hi, Dashy,” Pinkie says, happily, “and hello Mors.”

“What the abyss Pinkie, you surprised me!”

“Sowy,” Pinkie says, looking cute, “But my Pinkie sense said that you were coming, but I decided that I couldn’t wait so I thought I would meet you halfway.”

“I guess you want to talk about the party?”

“Yeah,” Pinkie says, giving a big grin, “I had another thought about it.”

“What about?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“What about we combined your ‘Got Out Of Hospital’ party with Mors’s ‘Welcome To Ponyville’ party!” Pinkie says, excitedly.

“Yeah, I would be fine with that,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“Great! We should have had her party three months ago when she first moved in with you, but she wanted to get used to the town first and then you had to go to hospital and I kinda forgot,” Pinkie says, smiling and whacking the side of her head to show that she derped.

“Wait, three months ago?” says Rainbow Dash, confused.

“Well duh, that when she moved into Ponyville and became your roommate because she was one of your friends in flight school remember?” Pinkie explains very quickly.

“Huh!” exclaims Rainbow Dash, totally confused.

“You don’t mind having the party like this, do you Mors?” asks Pinkie.

“Nope, I’m fine,” answers Mors.

“Great!” Pinkie says, happily, “Now pardon me because I got two parties to make. I will send you guys the invitation later.”

She disappears.

Rainbow Dash turns on Mors. “Ok, what in Tartarus is going…” she tries to say, but a Shetlandish voice interrupts her.

“Ah, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash turns around and sees who she thought it is, Doctor Highlander, who is wearing a full Shetlandish outfit complete with kilt and bagpipes. Rainbow Dash holds back laughing remembering the threat about needles.

“Hi, Ankou,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“I see you are out and about,” he says, in his usual gruff voice.

“Yep, I don’t want to lay about all day,” replies Rainbow Dash.

“That’s good, the fresh air is best” Highlander says.

“Where are you going with your bagpipes?” asks Rainbow Dash, curious.

“I’m going to play for a bunch of my Shetlandish brothers,” he says, proudly.

“That’s… cool,” says Rainbow Dash, wondering how many Shetlandish ponies are in Ponyville.

Highlander frowns, “I’m still sorry we couldn’t find any pony willing to look after you.”

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash says, confused again.

“But I was glad when you told me you had a roommate already,” Highlander says, looking at Mors, “And she looks a fine lass.”

“My name is Mors. Please to meet you Rainbow Dash told me all about you,” Mors says, offering a hoof to shake.

“Good things I hope,” he says, with one of his rare smiles, “Well I see you are doing alright Dash and I won’t brother you two any longer.” With that he walks away.

Mors is waving him off when Rainbow Dash suddenly drags her off into an alley. When they are alone, Rainbow Dash glares at Mors.

“Ok, what’s going on?” asks Rainbow Dash, angrily, “Everypony is treating you like they know you and Doctor Highlander doesn’t even remember you even though you were talking to him yesterday!”

“I guess everything has just changed,” Mors says, softly.

“What?” replies Rainbow Dash, annoyed.

“I am no longer a nurse,” Mors explains, “I am now your roommate.”

“What?” Rainbow Dash repeats, “What do you mean you are no longer a nurse?”

“My existence is temporary. Mors existence as a nurse ended when I left the hospital and I then started a new existence as your roommate and so ponies either remembers new thing about me like your friends or forgot about me like Doctor Highlander.”

“But how came I can remember you as a nurse?” asks Rainbow Dash, shocked.

“Because you know of my true identity, as Death,” answer Mors, “Thus you will never forget anything about me.”

“So you can brainwash ponies?” Rainbow Dash says, frowning.

“It doesn’t do any harm,” reassures Mors, “When I leave this existence and return to just being Death, no pony will remember me and everything will return to normal.”

“Beside me?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Beside you,” answers Mors.

“Ok… can you explain what has changed then, so I know what to expect?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Can’t!” responds Mors.

“Why?” asks Rainbow Dash, confused again.

“Because I don’t know what has changed,” answers Mors.

“What?!? But you responded to all of them like you know them and have hang out with them before?” says Rainbow Dash, very confused.

“I am just guessing what to say by what they say. I am used to this,” Mors says, smiling.

Rainbow Dash thinks she sees a hint of sadness in Mors’s eyes, but before Rainbow Dash can be sure she blinks and it gone.

“Is this why you can’t make friends?” asks Rainbow Dash, walking up to beside Mors, “Because you can’t properly meet ponies?”

“Yeah,” Mors say, smiling. She tilts her head forward, causing her messy hair to cover her eyes. “When I join the world of the living as Mors, the universe will find a place for me to fit in so ponies won’t expect I’m Death, but if something changes about me the universe will find me a new place. Every action I do may change how ponies will remember me, tomorrow Rarity, Pinkie, Derpy and Highlander may forget or remember different things about me. The only way for this not to happen is to know my real identity and most would run away in fear if they knew.”

Rainbow Dash lowers her head, trying to see under Mors hair, but it is too long. “That makes sense, I mean I would have run away too if you hadn’t held me. I can now see why you never made friends before.”

“You were wondering?” asks Mors, curious.

“Well I mean you have a very friendly attitude and you are a good cook and well… you’re just very nice pony to be around,” Rainbow Dash says, patting her back, “I mean if you were a normal pony you would have tons of friends!”

“Really?” asks Mors.

“Yeah, you could have nearly as much as Pinkie if it wasn’t for the fact that you are Deat…”

“Yeah, I am Death and I can’t make any friends or be normal because of it. But I only need one friend to experience it and that’s all I need from you, so try and become my friend or at least teach me about it or let me see true friendship, and even if you fail I will not take back my deal,” Mors says, in her usual cheerful voice, but Rainbow Dash can feel something as cold as a wasteland behind it.

Rainbow Dash thought she feels the temperature drop as well. Rainbow Dash is about apologize for what she said when a voice behind them interrupts them.

“Rainbow Dash, what are you doing in an alley and who’s that?” asks a familiar voice.

Rainbow Dash turns around and sees Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy standing at the one end of the alley.

“Well I see some of your friends are here now,” says Mors, quickly, “I think I will go home and take a nap.” Mors starts walking towards the other end of the alley, hair still hanging over her face.

“Hey, wait! Where are you going?” But it is already too late, she is gone.

“That was rude,” says Twilight, “Who was that anyway?”

“That was Mors, Twilight,” Fluttershy says, walking up beside Twilight, “You know Rainbow Dash’s roommate.”

“A roommate? When did you get a roommate?” asks Twilight, looking shocked and confused.

“A bit before my accident,” Rainbow Dash lies, not looking Twilight in the eyes.

“Could you also thank Mors for me for helping me with Tank? If that’s ok?” asks Fluttershy, meekly.

“Yeah, sure,” Rainbow Dash says, doubting she will.

“How come this is the first I have heard,” Twilight says, annoyed.

“I’m pretty sure you were told,” Fluttershy says.

“Well I don’t remember!” states Twilight, angrily.

“Maybe you were reading at the time,” adds Rainbow Dash, cheekily.

This causes Twilight and Fluttershy to laugh.

“Maybe,” Twilight says, knowing herself.

“I am glad you are better,” states Fluttershy, happily.

“Yeah, me too,” replies Rainbow Dash. “Well I should go after Mors,” Rainbow Dash say, wondering what Mors is doing.

“Wait,” Twilight says, stopping Rainbow Dash, “Why don’t you come and join me and Fluttershy for lunch.”

Rainbow Dash thinks about it. She only had an apple to eat and she is hungry and Mors is properly just tired… “Yeah, ok,” Rainbow Dash answers.

“Great!” says Twilight happily, “It will be great to spend time with you again.”

“Yes, it will be nice,” agrees Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash just nods and follows her friends out of the alley.





Mors walks through the streets of Ponyville, unseen and unnoticed, her head hanged low. An unexpecting pony walks through her and gets a nasty chill.

“I know I am Death, you don’t have to keep reminding me,” Mors says, in a cold cheerful voice.

She stops in front of a shop window and looks at her own reflection. A fixed grin hang on her face and two black holes with a light blue light glowing in the middle for eyes.

“I already know it is impossible to be anything else.”

With that she disappears.
> Chapter 8 - Questions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash sits at the café table, while beside her sit two of her friends, talking to each other. The topic of which they are talking about flies right over Rainbow Dash’s head, for her mind is elsewhere. She is trying to work out what Mors’s words meant before.

“What do you think, Rainbow Dash?... Dash are you listening?” asks Twilight, annoyed.

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash replies, zoning in.

“I was wondering what you think we should get for lunch?” answers Twilight, crossing her hooves.

“Anything’s fine,” dismisses Rainbow Dash, trying to get back to her thoughts.

“What’s wrong, Dash?” asks Fluttershy, concerned, noticing Rainbow Dash odd behaviour.

“Hmm? Oh nothing, just wondering about somethings,” replies Rainbow Dash, zoning in again.

“What about? Maybe we can help,” offers Twilight, curious.

“About Death…” Rainbow Dash says, regretting it, for the looks on her friend’s faces are depressing.

“Are you all right? Are you worried about death?” asks Twilight, worried that Rainbow Dash’s near death experience is still upsetting her.

“No,” Rainbow Dash says, annoyed, seeing that they missed the point, “I mean like the Pale Pony.”

“Oh,” they both say, their faces easing up, but their faces soon change to confusion.

“What are you wondering about?” asks Twilight.

“What do you know about it?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“Just as much as any other pony,” Twilight explains, shrugging, “It’s a fictional creature like the Tooth Fairy and the Sand Pony, it supposedly takes souls to the afterlife.”

“You don’t believe that they exist then?” asks Fluttershy, curious.

“Oh course, there has been no proof that any of those things exist,” explains Twilight.

Rainbow Dash wonders what they would think if they knew they were just talking to one before.

“But how come we believe in them then?” asks Fluttershy, curious. 

“Well take Death for an example: death is such a powerful force that we gave it a name and face to make it more familiar and less scary…” explains Twilight.

“What do you think it looks like?” interrupts Rainbow Dash, not interested in the current topic.

“Umm, well,” Twilight says, confused, “Most classical sources say that it is a skeletal pony with a scythe and sometimes in a black robe. But some artist about a thousand years ago I believe, did a picture of a mare before he died called the Angel of Death, and some like to believe that is what Death looks like.”

“What does the picture look like?” asks Rainbow Dash, curious.

“I don’t know,” replies Twilight, shrugging, “Never seen it before, only read about it.”

A waiter walks up to the table, placing some water on the table.

“What will you all be having?” he asks.

“Just three daisy sandwiches, please,” replies Twilight, politely. 

The waiter nods and walks off.

“Why are you so curious about Death?” asks Fluttershy.

“No reason, just curious,” dismisses Rainbow Dash, then she remembers something, “I have another question though.”

“What?” asks Twilight.

“How would you feel if you had to keep your identity a secret for fear of being rejected by everypony, and then had to use a made up one instead?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“What does this have to do with Death?” asks Twilight, confused.

“Just answer, Twi,” Rainbow Dash says, impatient.

“Well… I would definitely hate it,” Twilight finally answers, “Not being able to be myself would be horrible, and I would always be afraid that my real identity would be found out.”

Fluttershy nods her head, agreeing with Twilight.

“What about if whatever identity you choose you then magically fits into it?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“…what??” Twilight says, confused.

“I mean, if your fake identity is say Red Crust the town’s baker, everypony in town will magically know you as that pony and some ponies will magically become your friends like you were always Red Crust the town’s baker and never anyone else, but if you change your fake identity again then everything will change. Everything about Red Crust will be forgotten and everypony will remember new things about this new identity instead… and you always have to change your identity every now and then,” Rainbow Dash explains.

“Where is this coming from?” asks Twilight, confused, thinking that this is too complicated for Rainbow Dash to make up.

“From a book I read,” lies Rainbow Dash, who was ready for this question.

“Well I don’t quite understand it, but…” Fluttershy says, quietly, “I imagine it would be very hard.”

“Hard?” replies Rainbow Dash, confused.

“To know that your fake identity is the only thing ties to your fake friends and any new friends you may have made in that time, and if your identity changes they will forget all about you, I imagine it would be terrifying,” explains Fluttershy, “Even if you didn’t earn them normally they are still your friends and care for you, and maybe that pony has started to think of them as friends as well.”

“What would you imagine would happen to that pony if their identity keeps changing?” asks Rainbow Dash, quietly.

“I imagine they would give up,” guesses Fluttershy, “To keep having to change your identity and to keep having everypony forget about you, well… I would just give up.”

“Give up?” asks Rainbow Dash.

“I wouldn’t bother anymore to try and make friends or even talk to ponies. I would become distance and become very lonely, being forced to go along with this cruel changing life,” explains Fluttershy, “Well if that happen to me.”

“That is a very interesting answer, Fluttershy,” comments Twilight, impressed.

“Oh, thank you,” Fluttershy says, blushing.

Rainbow Dash thinks about what was just said. ‘Is this how Mors feels? But she is trying to make a friend so that can’t be the case… but she said she wants to experience friendship and doesn’t matter if I can’t become friends with her, as long I can show it to her. She also got upset when I mentioned if she wasn’t Death she would have lots of friends… does she hate being Death or does she just want friends to accept her for what she is? And I just left her to hang out with my friends… well she left me so I can hang out with my friends but the point still stands.’

“I gotta go,” she says, standing up.

“So soon?” asks Fluttershy, confused.

“But I just ordered lunch!” says Twilight, shocked.

“Sorry, but I just remembered something important I have to do,” Rainbow says, starting to jog off. “I will make it up to you later!” she yells back at them.

Soon Twilight and Fluttershy lose sight of her.

“I wonder where she is going?” wonders Fluttershy, “Maybe it has something to do with Mors.” She turns towards Twilight, “What do you think, Twilight?” But Twilight doesn’t answer, for she is still looking in the direction where Rainbow Dash ran in, and is scowling.

“Sorry, Fluttershy, I don’t really feel hungry anymore,” Twilight says, standing up. She pulls out some bits out of her bag and places it on the table, “Here the money for the sandwiches. Sorry.” With that she flies off and disappears.

Fluttershy looks surprise at her friend’s sudden departure, she snaps out of it when three sandwiches are placed in front of her.

“Is this the money for the sandwiches?” the waiter asks, pointing to the bits on the table.

“Oh… yes,” Fluttershy says, shyly, now wondering what to do with the two extra sandwiches.

The waiter nods and picks up the bits and is about to leaves.

“Wait… umm,” calls out Fluttershy to the waiter, “I can I have these to take away?





Rainbow Dash dashes through the alleyway where she parted with Mors and then checks the surrounding areas. She can’t find her. Where is she?

She runs past the park and something catches her eyes. It is Mors. She is standing on a hill, the wind catching her mane, tossing it sideways as she looks vacantly at the horizon. It is the first time Rainbow Dash has seen her without a smile, her face seems serious and also very tired, like she is thinking hard about something.

“Mors?” calls Rainbow Dash, startling Mors.

“What? Oh, Rainbow Dash, I thought you were having lunch with your friends?” she says, putting on her usual bright smile, but somehow it feels fake now.

“I cancelled, I remembered I have something to tell you,” explains Rainbow Dash, nervously.

“Hmmm?” replies Mors, her eyes showing her confusion.

“I sorry about what I said before, it was thoughtless and mean!” Rainbow Dash shouts, quickly getting it off her chest. She looks at Mors’s face and sees that her expression is darkening, she hurries up with the next bit. “And please be my friend!” she finishes. She watches and see the Mors’s face change to shock, one of her hooves covering her mouth. “And I say that not to Mors the Roommate but Mors the Pale Pony,” Rainbow Dash adds, finally.

“Where is this coming from, Rainbow Dash?” Mors asks, her hoof still covering her mouth.

“I never really thought about why you wanted to experience friendship before until now,” explains Rainbow Dash, “You said you wanted to experience friendship because you want to experience life, but I think it is really about because deep down you must be really lonely and really want to have friends, but you are at a disadvantage because you are Death. Maybe you nearly gave up trying to make friends and this is your final try and I’m so sorry for not really trying to become your friend before, but now I really do want to try now.”

“So it doesn’t matter if I’m Death?” Mors asks, quietly.

“No, because that’s just who you are. So can we please start over and be friends?” asks Rainbow Dash.

Mors then giggles, “It sound like you are asking me out.”

Rainbow Dash blushes. “Wait, I mean…” she stutters, embarrassed.

She is silenced as Mors hugs her. “I know what you mean and I would love to be your friend,” she whispers into her ear, “I knew you were the right chose. Please teach me all about friendship, Dash.”

“Sure,” Rainbow Dash whispers back, returning the hug.
> Chapter 9 - Bowling(unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sound of hard objects hitting the wooden floor echoes throughout the place, cheers of triumph can be heard as entire columns of units are wiped out in an instant. Yes, this is the first time Mors has been in a bowling alley. She looks around as ponies laugh and pat each other on the backs as they slaughter the weird looking things at the other side of the room. 

“What a grim place,” comments Mors, looking around the room. 

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash replies, as she pays for the use of a bowling alley. 

“This reminds me of an ancient game where prisoners and bad slaves were locked in a maze and if they found a dead end a trap would kill them, and a lot of the traps were rolling boulder that would crush them,” Mors says, as she watches a pony get a strike. 

“That must have been fun,” Rainbow Dash says, sarcastically, thinking that that reminds her of a Daring Doo book. 

“Those were busy days,” Mors sighs, resting her head in one of her hooves. 

“What happened to the ponies that got out?” asks Rainbow Dash, picking up her bowling bag and heading for their bowling alley. 

“Oh, they then had to fight to the death in an arena,” replies Mors, walking behind Rainbow Dash. 

“You must have been working nonstop,” comments Rainbow Dash, taking out her bowling ball and a spare from her bag.  

“Busy days,” repeats Mors, giving her usual smile. 

“Ok, so do you know how to play?” asks Rainbow Dash, checking if she herself remembers how to hold a bowling ball. 

“You have to slaughter the weird things at the other side of room with the ball of death,” answers Mors, smiling and pointing at the pins. 

“That’s one way of putting it,” admits Rainbow Dash, sighing. 

“Do the weird things mind that they are being killed?” asks Mors, looking down the alley. 

“What? Of course they don’t care,” replies Rainbow Dash, confused. 

“You’re right, they do seem to be smiling,” Mors says, still looking down the alley. 

Confused Rainbow Dash looks down the alley and sees that some tasteless pony has drawn faces on their bowling pins. 

“Weird. Ok, here a ball, now knock over those pins,” orders Rainbow Dash, handing Mors the spare bowling ball. 

Mors nods and faces the pins. Rainbow Dash smiles, turns around and grabs is about to grab her ball… when she hears ponies yelling in their direction. She quickly turns and to horror finds Mors walking towards pin, most likely going to knock them over. 

“Mors, come back here!” Rainbow Dash yells at the white pegasus. 

Mors notices Rainbow Dash’s calls and heads back. 

“What’s wrong Dash?” asks Mors, with a confused look on her face. 

“You’re not supposed to cross that line,” explains Rainbow Dash, quickly, pointing at the line, “You have to throw it without crossing the line and if you do it is doesn’t count.” 

“Oh, that why no pony is walking down the alley,” notes Mors, looking at the other players, “I thought that was weird.” 

Mors walks back to the alley, stops in front of the line, stands up on her hind hooves and is about to chuck it over head… 

“Stop!” yells Rainbow Dash, grabbing Mors and stopping her from throwing the ball, “You have to throw it underhoof.” 

“Oh ok,” Mors says, falling onto her four hooves again. 

“Watch how everypony else throws their balls and then copy them,” orders Rainbow Dash, pointing at the other bowlers. 

Mors looks at them for a while and then nods. 

“Ok, I think I got it,” confirms Mors. 

“Ok, let see it,” sighs Rainbow Dash. 

Mors stands at the end of the bowling alley, takes up the proper bowling stance, holds the ball in the proper way, and seems to be throwing the ball the right way. But then the ball leaves her hoof… at MACH 2 speeds… 

A sonic boom echoes though the bowling alley, grabbing everypony’s attention. The ball smashes through the pins(scoring a strike), sending them flying all over and then crashes into the wall with a huge “CRASH!!” 

“How was that?” asks Mors, looking at the stunned Rainbow Dash. 

“Pretty good,” nods Rainbow Dash, unable to do anything else, “But next time throw it slower, you have to let it roll.” 

“Oh ok,” replies Mors, not noticing the stares she is getting. 

“Listen, just practice a few more throws while I get something to drink,” Rainbow Dash says, pointing to the snack bar, “Do you want anything?” 

“No thanks,” Mors says, smiling. She turns around and practices throwing again, this time doing it slower. 

Rainbow Dash walks up to snack bar and attracts the attendant running it. 

“What can I get you?” she asks, leaning on the counter. 

“A Gee-Fizz please,” orders Rainbow Dash, putting the bits on the counter. 

“Your friend something, right,” notes the attendant, as she serves the drink. 

“Yeah, she is,” Rainbow Dash sighs. 

“Pretty too,” also notes the attendant, passing over the drink, “She almost doesn’t seem real.” 

Rainbow Dash admits that Mors is pretty, hell amazing is a better word. Her form is perfect and without fat, her face is perfectly formed and naturally beautiful, and her hair is amazing and looks fantastic. She is like a piece of living art. 

“Oh-oh, look like you better save your friend, some sharks are bothering her,” the attendant notes, pointing at a few stallions who have walked up to the lone mare. 

“Oh pony feathers,” Rainbow Dash moans, grabbing her drink and heading back to Mors. 

“So what are you doing?” asks one stallion, leaning forward towards Mors. 

“Bowling,” quickly answers Mors, thinking that this stallion is a dumb arse for asking such dumb question. 

“Well it is no fun bowling by yourself, why not join us,” offers another stallion, his eyes roaming over Mors perfect body. 

Mors feels a shiver run up her spine and she has no idea why. But before anything else can happen Rainbow Dash appears. 

“Hey, leave her alone!” yells Rainbow Dash at the two stallions. 

“Beat it, we are busy here!” one stallion yells back, before turning back to Mors. 

“Oh good you’re back Dash,” says a relived Mors, as she pushes aside the two stallion away. Unfortunately for the two stallions she used too much force and sends them skidding away down two separate bowling alleys, earning Mors a double strike. 

Rainbow Dash can only stand there stunned at what just happened, as Mors runs up beside her. 

“Thank the never ending existence that you are here,” says Mors, her eyes showing that she is relived, “I don’t know what they wanted but I could only feel impure thoughts from them.” 

“Ignore them, let's just do some bowling,” offers Rainbow Dash, smiling. 

Mors smiles and nods happily, and so their match begins. After a while Mors speaks. 

“Thanks again for inviting me,” says Mors, after getting another strike. 

“You’re welcome,” replies Rainbow Dash, taking her turn. 

“I’m not getting the way of you hanging out with your friends am I?” Mors says, her eyes showing that she is worried. 

“First, you are my friend,” notes Rainbow Dash, lining up her shoot, “Second, my other friends were busy today.” 

“Oh…” Mors says, her eyes showing disappointment. 

“So I thought we could have are first private friend outing together,” continues Rainbow Dash, throwing her ball, managing to get 9/10 pins. 

“Oh ok,” Mors says, her eyes showing her happiness. 

Rainbow Dash watches as Mors takes her turn. It has been a few days since Rainbow Dash declared that she would be Mors's friend, and she thinks she has learned a lot about the reaper. For one, her emotions can only be seen through her eyes, she has trouble showing her emotion any other way. I think the saying was ‘That a skull never ceases to grin.’ 

“Hey I finished my turn,” Mors says, snapping Dash out of her thoughts. 

“Oh, then let’s look at the score then,” Rainbow Dash says, checking the score. 

Mors wins with straight strikes all the way. Rainbow Dash glares at Mors. 

“I’m guessing by your look that I won?” Mors says, smiling. 

“Are you sure you never bowled before?” asks Rainbow Dash, suspicious. 

“I guess I’m just a fast learner,” Mors says, with an innocent look on her face. 

Rainbow Dash sighs and starts packing up her balls. 

“Well let’s just go back home,” Rainbow Dash says, as she picks up her bag. 

“Ok,” replies Mors, following Rainbow Dash as she leaves. 

They walk out onto the street and head back to Rainbow Dash’s place. 

“Only a few days until you can fly fast again, right?” asks Mors, skipping beside Rainbow Dash. 

“Yeah, I can’t wait. All this walking is tiresome,” declares Rainbow Dash, rolling her eyes. 

“Yeah…” Mors is about to say but her raven interrupts her. It is carrying a letter. Mors takes the letter and looks over it. 

“What going on?” asks Rainbow Dash, trying to look over Mors’s shoulder, but Mors puts the letter away before Rainbow Dash can get a good look. 

“Sorry Dash, but duty calls,” Mors says, walking away. 

“Oh, when will you be coming back?” asks Rainbow Dash, slightly sad that Mors is leaving. 

“Maybe tomorrow or later,” Mors shrugs, “It is a family matter, these takes time.” With that Mors disappears. 

Rainbow Dash sighs and continues back home. She wonders what Mors family is like? She has heard in the few days she been with Mors that her family is made up of her and two brothers. Rainbow Dash wonders what those two are like or even what they are… she then wonders what she is having for dinner tonight since Mors usually has been making her meals for her. 

“I guess I will get take out tonight,” Rainbow Dash sighs again. 



 

From a dark alley a robed pony watches as Rainbow Dash walks by. He grips his staff which jingles slightly. 

“Why does the dead walk the street?”