Eternity is Not Forever

Death woke screaming and wrapped his arms around himself as his glowing red eyes scanned his dark room. Another nightmare it seems. About HER too. They seemed to be getting worse and worse as time passed. Despite the fact he was death incarnate the thought of oblivion still scared him. Why he couldn't tell. He could do with talking to Luna about this to see if she could send him some sweet dreams. But she would most likely scold him for sleeping on the job. A luxury the dead were NOT suppose to have.

He shook his head and pulled himself off the bed. He still found himself unable to shake off the lingering habits of life. Such as eating, drinking, sleeping...Maybe he would never get over this. It didn't bother him but it did slow down the his work progress which meant that poor souls would suffer in limbo until he could see to them personally.

The earth pony stretched and headed toward the bathroom. He was told several times by friends and family when he was a living breathing stallion that he was so very VERY vain. Another trait to pass over into his afterlife. He still found pride in his appearance although he was heavily scarred and his color heavily muted. Death still fondly remembered his younger brother mocking him when he was a little colt for being so particular about his appearance.

Laughing he brushed out his mane and tail and reached for his cloak. He swore to himself he would never stop being amazed by this horrific illusion.

The moment he tied the cloak about his neck and pull the hood up he watched as his skin almost visibly melted off leaving behind bare bone. His hair fizzled away leaving it bare. His eyes sunk into the skull leaving behind two glowing red orbs in their place. He was now the personification of the grim reaper in truth.

"Leaving so soon?" a feminine voice asked from behind him.

Death turned to see a mare with a smooth violet coat and short pink and blue mane. She would have been beautiful if not for the fact the left side of her face was burned so badly it left exposed bone. To most she was disgusting. To Death she was beautiful.

Belandra. The mare whose soul refused to rest. His beloved he could not have.

"I have quite the day ahead of me. There's many souls departing today who require my aid." he walked over and kissed her cheek. "I will return as soon as I can."

She softened and smiled and kissed him back. "I know you will..." he began to exit when he heard her say, "I saw who was on your list....I wish you luck my undead prince..."

Death paused at the door, took a deep breath and left.


Death's red orbs scanned the area and he paused searching for his quarry. So far the collections today had gone smoothly. Not much resistance this time. All went peacefully and he was able to guide them to either their doom or paradise with little effort. Things normally didn't go so smoothly. Maybe Fate planned this so he could have time to deal with...her...

Taking a deep breath he walked up the mountainside and his eyes locked onto the one he was afraid to ever have to see on his list.

An elderly mare with a faded blue coat and redish purple mane lay on the edge with a beautiful white unicorn curled up next to her. The older mare was close to breathing her last. But needed Death's assistance to make it to the oblivion that awaited her.

For a long while he simply started at her. At once feeling emotions he hadn't felt in a long time wash over him. Regret. Guilt. Sorrow..

He shook his head and pulled out his scythe and stretched it out to the body of the mare.

"The master of Death calls your soul to the afterlife!" Death shouted. Slowly an ethereal form condensed before him and the world dropped away leaving the two in the greyness of Purgatory. "Thou soul shall be judged by the Grim Reaper himself!!"

His breath caught in his throat as the elderly mare became the form of a lovely young unicorn mare. Her hair flowed with the wind and glowed with what seemed to be tiny stars. Her eyes a beautiful sapphire blue and slit like a felines that took in the sights around her. Eyes that locked with his own. She took a step back and seemed childlike in her fear.

"Am I...Am I dead?" she asked slowly.

"Yes...but I do not know why I was called...you are not in balance.." Death was now speechless.  The radiant light was enough to prove she was worthy of paradise...but why was he called then?

"Are you..Death then?"  her voice was calmer now.

"I am." his eyes narrow "And you are Starlight Rider correct?"

She nodded and continued to look around. Her fear had turned into amazement. "Is this heaven?"

"No this is Purgatory...although you are bound for that place." he shook his head. Mistakes like this were not common. Fate must of slipped up..."I can however open a portal directly there so not to waste your time.."

Rider's eyes widened and she nodded.

Death motioned for her to step aside and pulled out his scythe once again. He closed his eyes and regained his focus. Opening his eyes he brought the scythe down in a vicious slash opening a gap between realms. Rider all but jumped back and stared into the rift.

"This is your home now...do not let me hold you here." Death wanted to look away but found he couldn't. The warmth from this place was overwhelming and he felt a longing to be there. But sadly...until his successor slew him he would forever be in the role of the Grim Reaper.

He watched as Rider walked toward the portal and something he did not expect happened. Two figures stood on the other side. Rider burst into the tears and ran forward to hug them both tightly.

One was a small filly with a pale blue coat a rainbow mane and bright green eyes.

The other was a stallion a few years younger than Death himself with a pale grey coat and black mane streaked with blue and green. Whose eyes matches those of the filly almost perfectly.

"Brother?" Death whispered. His outburst didn't seem to be heard by Rider or the stallion.

"Oh Nether Storm!" She cried into the stallions mane, "I've missed you so much! These last few years have been torture my love!"

Nether Storm hugged her back tightly "I have missed you too..."

She let go and knelled down to hug the filly "And my sweetest Aurora...I have cried to much over you my little girl...I have missed you so..."

The filly reached up to hug her neck "It's okay mommy...no more tears.."

Their voices grew distant as the portal closed leaving Death alone. He pulled back his hood and ran a hoof through his messy brown hair. His face was soaked with tears as he turned away. He swung his scythe around and buried the blade deep in the grey soil and collapsed on the ground sobbing uncontrollably.

"Rider...my love...my darling..." He looked up to where the rift used to be "I wish I didn't leave you...I never should have left!"

Memories he long suppressed of him in his living years rose to the surface. He remembered promising Rider the world. He had hoped to marry her one day...but he was a fool and couldn't bare the pain of his sickness anymore and took his own life...

He buried his face once again "Why....why..." he wiped his nose and let out a shaky breath. "I can never hope to see you again either...I wish you to be happy my beloved...even if you are with my dear brother...you deserve each other...I never deserved you..."

Time passed and he finally got up and threw his hood back up. "No matter..." he shook himself out and reclaimed his scythe. "Love is a thing for the living...I am only fooling myself..."

As he headed home he found himself muttering "Damn you Fate...Damn you..."