Original Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V4CwVpe7hQ9r0bXpnu0EkYOlVYhdBJ31ysOgBYp1Y1Y/edit?usp=sharing

The months passed by and, apart from Spike’s unexplained disappearance, it was suspiciously quiet around Ponyville. As winter came to an end, Obsidian was allowed to perform his duties again, to Derpy Hooves’ great relief. She soon had to realize that his change barely affected his efficiency. In fact, now that he was in balance with his thoughts again, Obsidian’s hunt for demons was as effective as ever.

With spring, life returned to Equestria. The animals were finally back and Fluttershy could do what she enjoyed most again. But she hadn’t forgotten about her training. Even when Obsidian was away, she kept on practising on her own. A few hours of meditation became part of her lifestyle and even the animals could only be astonished about how much control she had gained and how focused she had become. Things that appeared impossible a year ago she was now able to handle easily.

It was morning already when Obsidian returned from a quite successful demon hunt. He managed to defeat and consume four rather strong ones. As he approached the cottage, the black stallion spotted Fluttershy, sitting in the sunlight and meditating. She had improved significantly since she began her training. Sunken in a deep trance, she was unaware of her surroundings.

The reaper had been waiting for such a situation for a while now. Obsidian snuck behind the cottage and slowly approached the yellow mare from behind, trying to cause no noises. With her sitting in the sunlight, his shadow won’t reveal him when he came close either. The animals also didn’t seem to understand what was about to happen.

Obsidian was only a few steps away from Fluttershy and she still did not notice him. Quietly, he summoned his scythe and snuck directly behind her. Now the nearby animals became alarmed, but before any of them could warn the yellow mare, Obsidian was already in position to strike. Fluttershy’s eyes shot open and she turned around instinctively, enabling her to narrowly dodge the lethal strike.

The reaper swung his weapon a second time, aiming for her neck. Fluttershy, threw herself against the ground, again very closely dodging the attack. Now, only the right side of Obsidian’s face was showing to her, which meant he could not see the yellow mare due to his blind eye. Fluttershy reacted quickly, putting the situation to her advantage. She skillfully grabbed the scythe with her front legs while giving the reaper a hard flying kick. Obsidian lost grip on his weapon and fell on his back. Before he could get up again, Fluttershy jumped on his chest, forcing him to stay in his position by holding the sharp tip of the scythe against his throat.

The black stallion and Fluttershy looked at each other grimly, the yellow mare additionally panting in stress. But soon, Obsidian calmed down, smiling warmly at her. Fluttershy now started to relax as well, a blush growing on her face. Finally, she placed the scythe aside, smiled back at him and gave her partner a passionate kiss.

“You startled me,” she commented with a teasing expression after the kiss ended.

“Me paenitet, mea amāta,” he apologized. The yellow mare now stepped off and allowed Obsidian to get up again.

“Fast, skilled and precise. You have become strong, Fluttershy. Your instincts and reflexes have improved enormously, too,” he complimented while letting his scythe disappear.

“Well, I still don’t have a chance against you when you use magic...” the yellow mare commented.

“In your case, it is only a matter of time until you best me in a full combat, mea amāta. You can be proud of yourself,” the reaper stated.

The blush on Fluttershy’s face grew stronger as she turned her head away in bashfulness. As she spotted the speechless animals, something came to her mind.

“Oh! How long have I been meditating? I better go inside and check on Angel,” she explained.

“Has his condition improved in any way?” Obsidian wondered.

“No... not really...” the yellow mare said, shaking her head slowly. “I have no idea what happened to him during his hibernation that he got so sick... His fever just keeps going higher and higher. I think I should stay with him today and see what I can do for him.”

“Intellegō. Now excuse me, but Rainbow Dash is awaiting me. I promised her another race. I shall return this afternoon,” Obsidian stated.

“Okay. Say hello to everypony for me!” Fluttershy requested.

The black stallion nodded and lifted into the air, flying towards Ponyville.

---

Upon arrival, Obsidian was immediately greeted by a few ponies walking by. The reaper was almost fully accepted by a majority of the villagers and seeing him patrolling around became a normal sight. It was almost like in the old days of him as a normal earth pony living in Coltholm... almost. He still didn’t care for other ponies, besides the keepers of harmony. He also had not a lot of time to interact with other ponies. His schedule simply wouldn’t allow it. But whenever he could, he tried to be with the keepers.

As the black stallion roamed the streets, he came across Derpy Hooves. She saw him immediately too, bowing down before him.

“Greetings, elder,” she spoke.

“Salvē, apprentice. What do you have to report?” Obsidian wondered.

“Nothing actually. It is strange, really. I haven’t seen a demon around the village for days. Makes me wonder where they are...” Derpy stated.

Obsidian remained silent and observed his surroundings. She was right. Everything was suspiciously easy lately.

“I know this kind of silence. It’s the silence before a big storm. I’m pretty sure of it,” the gray mare commented.

“Possibly. In this case, we should request support. We must protect the keepers at all costs,” the black stallion suggested.

“Yes, elder. I will send a letter immediately,” Derpy said, bowed down again and flew away.

---

Obsidian continued his patrol through the village. At the marketplace, he met with Applejack, who was buying new seeds for the farm. Their conversation was relatively short, but he delivered her Fluttershy’s greetings and Applejack said, with relief, that Granny Smith had recovered and was back on her feet already. Though she now was too old and weak to help the farm anymore. Still, Applejack seemed sure she will be able to regrow her strength, disregarding her high age. Obsidian avoided to make any comments.

Soon after, Rainbow Dash returned from her weather check. She landed right by both of them.

“Hi, AJ! Salvē, O!” she greeted happily.

“Howdy, Rainbow!” Applejack responded.

“Salvē. Quid est novum?” the reaper asked.

“Um... Quid est... quid est... ah! Nihil speciālis! Did I get it right?” Rainbow wondered.

“Yes. It is interesting to see how much effort you put into understanding an old language like this. By the way: I am supposed to say hello to you in the name of Fluttershy. She will not be able to go out today. Angel’s sickness is getting worse,” Obsidian commented.

“Oh. Thats bad. Hope the little one will get better soon. Anyway, I think I’ll never really get this language, though. But it sounds cool and who knows what it’s good for. Maybe I’ll get my hooves on an old book written in that way. Then I can read out some parts and brag in front of Twilight that I am able to read a book she can’t!” Rainbow responded, giggling a bit mischievous. “Anyway, ready for the race? I can’t let it sit on you winning last time.”

“To the same hill as usual?” the reaper wondered, getting in position.

“Yep. Get ready! Oh, by the way AJ. I’ll have to drop by the farm later!” the athletic Pegasus mare stated.

“Alright, RD. See y’all later!” Applejack spoke.

“Later!” Rainbow Dash responded and jumped in position. “Okay, are you ready, O? Three... Two... One... GO!”

---

Obsidian and Rainbow Dash had been competing with each other frequently these days. Although she just had to realize there was no way she could ever match his reaper strength, the chances in beating him in a race were pretty good. They were about equally fast and skilled, resulting into very challenging races each time, which often ended with a different winner. Although she beat him on the first race they had, Obsidian, too, had been practising. Just like the last time they raced, Obsidian won narrowly.

“Darnit... I hate losing...” Rainbow Dash complained after she regained breath.

“Do not feel defeated, Rainbow. Few ponies can truthfully proclaim they are able to surpass an elder reaper every other time,” the black stallion spoke.

“But that wasn’t ‘every other time’! I lost two times in a row! How am I going to be good enough to be accepted by the Wonderbolts if I can’t beat you everytime?” Dash asked.

Obsidian became silent. She really put all her efforts in becoming the greatest athlete in all of Equestria to make her dream come true. Obsidian had been up all night. He was drained from the battles, but still considered giving her a rematch.

“How about a race back to Ponyville then, or are you too exhausted?” the black stallion challenged, raising his head and looking down on her in an arrogant manner. Dash instantly reacted to the provocation.

“Me? Too exhausted? You’re funny, O! Get ready to be annihilated!” she responded. Most other ponies would have reached their limit by now, but not Rainbow Dash. This Pegasus really was adamant and untiring.

---

“C’mon... c’mon...yyyyyyyyyyyyes!” the light blue mare shouted as she reached the marketplace of Ponyville just moments before Obsidian. This second race really drained her and she leaned against the statue of Celestia to recover, panting heavily.

Obsidian landed next to her. Rainbow’s stamina was enormous. It even put Obsidian close to his limits. He, too, needed a moment to recover.

“HAH! What do you say now, O?” Dash started to brag as soon as she was capable of speaking again.

“In all honestly, I have never met a Pegasus as fast and enduring as you, Rainbow Dash. There is no doubt you have the qualities of a Wonderbolt. I would even go so far as to say of a reaper,” Obsidian complimented.

“Hehe. Now that’s what I like to hear! Still, I’ll keep practising until the Wonderbolts just have no other option anymore but to add me to their team,” she explained.

Both, Rainbow Dash and Obsidian Shards, sat down next to the statue and looked around in thoughts while they recovered. The black stallion wandered his eyes around the village. Some ponies were waving at him again. Only Carrot Top seemed too busy to notice him.

Obsidian’s mind shifted to his book of death. So far, he rarely had to take the life of a villager. Most ponies he had to reap got lost in Everfree Forest or were victims of accidents outside of Ponyville. But soon, names were coming up that may damage his reputation in Ponyville again. Ponies had such difficulties understanding these things and how necessary they were...

Obsidian suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as he spotted Carrot Top again, this time waving at him. She came out of the same street as last time. This caught the attention of the reaper.

“Hold on...” Obsidian spoke and got up, waving back at Carrot Top. Then he walked the path she had gone the first time. After a short walk, he indeed found a pony that looked exactly like her. Obsidian’s face became serious and he charged towards the copycat. The other ponies were lightly shocked to see the black stallion pouncing and pinning her to the ground. Carrot Top struggled and tried to shout until Obsidian casted a disguise breaker spell on her. To his great dislike, it worked.

The creature Obsidian pinned down was not a pony. It was insect-like with two long fangs, fly wings and holes in the legs. A creature the ponies knew precisely from a large assault on Canterlot a few years ago, causing them to scream and panic lightly. It was a changeling.

“What are you doing here? Has your queen sent you?” the black stallion growled. The changeling hissed back at Obsidian. It refused to talk.

Obsidian had to realize he would not get any informations out of this one. He couldn’t kill it either, since it was still bright day and they were in the middle of Ponyville. He had no option but to let it go.

The changeling quickly flew away after Obsidian stepped aside. It appeared as if Derpy was right. A changeling in Equestria can only mean big trouble. He instantly started to write a report to his mistress.

---

Although Obsidian said he would be back in the afternoon, it was sundown when he finally came home. With Rainbow’s help, he alarmed all the other keepers of harmony and Derpy. Then they went looking for more changelings, without success. The return of the changelings worried them all. Last time, they aimed to conquer Equestria. There was no doubt they would try it again, just this time better prepared and with an even bigger swarm. In the worst case, the reapers would have to join in a war against them, disregarding the demon strongholds for a while.

Obsidian went straight inside the cottage and looked for his partner. Fluttershy was still sitting next to Angel’s basket with a very worried face.

“There you are! Gosh, has something happened? You usually never come home this late after you set a time,” the yellow mare wondered.

“Apologies, mea amāta. Yes, something has happened. I found a changeling in Ponyville,” the reaper stated, causing Fluttershy to jump a little in shock.

“A changeling?! Oh my... oh no! What was it doing here?” she questioned.

“I could not get it to speak and was forced to let it go. But I am certain it was spying around,” Obsidian replied.

“D-do you think they will attack Equestria again?” Fluttershy worried.

“There is a chance...” the black stallion responded.

The yellow mare bit her lower lip in the thought of another invasion. She very well understood Equestria already had enough problems dealing with the demons. If they returned, it would cause a really big problem. Obsidian walked next to her, placing his front hooves on her shoulders and looking her into the eyes.

“Mea amāta... I may have to go to war against them if they really return,” he explained.

“I know...” she replied. Her eyes then wandered back to Angel. He was hyperventilating and seemed to have light convulsions from the fever.

“It is still getting worse?” Obsidian wondered.

“Yes... I don’t know what to do anymore. I just can’t get the fever down,” the yellow mare explained.

“He is not going to recover...” the black stallion suddenly stated coldly and walked over to the basket.

“O... Obsidian?” Fluttershy spoke. The reaper gently picked up the white bunny in his blanket and held him. Angel was very weak. He could hardly keep his eyes open anymore and was suffering. Obsidian knew this face.

“Angel... you were the one who united us. Everything positive that happened ever since that moment, and everything positive that is still to be, I owe to you. I do understand that you disliked me in the beginning and to be honest, I was not too appreciative of you either. But I am very glad we could put our fights to an end...” the reaper started.

“My love...” Fluttershy spoke in a taken voice.

“I know you made it your duty to guard Fluttershy and support her in every way you can. But do not worry. I will continue your work and stay by her side for as long as I can,” Obsidian continued, holding Angel even closer.

“Huh?” the yellow mare spoke.

“So, as my final gift, let me end your suffering,” Obsidian spoke. After that, he twisted the bunny’s neck hard, breaking it instantly. Angel was already gone when his dead body exhaled one last time.

“Rest in peace,” he finally finished and placed Angel back in his basket. He looked peaceful now. Obsidian killed him fast and painless. The white bunny didn’t even bleed, making him look like he just gently fell asleep.

The reaper now turned to Fluttershy. She stared at Angel with tears in her eyes and an expression showing complete and utter shock. Obsidian gently embraced her.

“He is okay now, mea amāta,” the black stallion spoke gently. Fluttershy still stood there, shaking and staring at the mortal remains of her favorite pet.

“O... Ob... sidian...y...you...” she stuttered.

“It is okay. I am here,” he tried to comfort. Suddenly, Fluttershy shoved him away and gave him a hard slap in the face.

“You monster!” she shouted as loud as she could. Fluttershy didn’t know what to do anymore. This scene was too much for her. She simply ran upstairs and began to cry.

Obsidian stood there, motionlessly holding a hoof on the spot on his cheek where she hit him. His eyes were wide open and he, too, experienced shock. This really hurt him. But it was not the physical pain that hit him so hard, but the emotional.

Her face... this rage... these tears of sadness in her eyes... he wouldn’t have thought this would hurt her so much.

The reaper turned around to Angel again. His expression slowly changed from shock to a deep sadness. He picked up the little bunny and went outside. Obsidian had a grave to dig.