There was so much for Elysium to tell, I'm not sure if I understood everything she said, and what I did understand I wasn't entirely sure if I really believed everything. Queen Elysium used to consort with the other being that I saw, Stolas, who lives in the realm of Tartarus. She told me that Tartarus is accessible through a portal in the chasm I saw. She hasn't been to this Tartarus in a long time but when she was, Tartarus was divided into two parts.

She did tell me that the little filly that continued to play nearby, Thōdan, was her daughter even though this little filly was not her only offspring. She had two sons as well, Lady Thōdan was the youngest of these, the middle son's name escaped me but Lord Scorpan sounded familiar. Her sons, who were much older than their sister had gone out into the world. I think she could sense I knew what became of them.

However, I was baffled by the appearances of the three. Why were they not Alicorns? This question only seemed to delight the Queen, I saw her eyes gleam slightly through her stoic demeanor.

"They are Reapers."

"What?"

"Immortal, yes, possessing equinoid forms, yes. But they were born in worlds like this, that aren't quite 'alive' by your standards, Miss Clover. This gives them forms somewhat different from mine and they have the ability to open gates to, well..." She waved a forehoof about, pointing over the balcony and such.

"However, I'm afraid that since Tirek only took magic and Scorpan only followed him for quite some time, only Thōdan is left to learn the skills of a Reaper who guides the souls of departed mortals now that I see that Stolas' teachings have failed and-"

"And what?"

The queen did not enjoy this interruption but answered me in a level tone. "Stolas taught Tirek all he knew about magic, and when Tirek was questioned on whether he wanted to officially be a Reaper and guide the souls of the departed, he refused and persuaded his older brother to go out into the world to 'make something of themselves'."

"I was, well you see... what were you going to say before I interrupted you?"

"You got here on your own, Miss Clover."

"Yes?"

"Did you know that you're very lucky? Normally, a spirit gets lost without the direct aide of myself, Stolas, or a Reaper and wander about your realm until one of us finds you. It is rare and inefficient for this to happen, and for the living it can be dangerous since if they come too close enough to where they can traverse borders between realms... well, they explode."

"Is there any way a living mortal could survive?" Do I want to know? Will I even believe it? It was stupid to ask.

"One. There is only one theoretical way for a mortal to survive and that would be if a god, not a Reaper, were to give them access to my land of Paradise or Stolas' land of Tartarus. However the creature in question cannot be either living or dead since only a Reaper or an Alicorn with a similar talent like Stolas or myself can guide the dead and as I said before, if this creature were alive they won't find themselves like that for much longer."

"B-but how do they survive if they are dying?"

"Well, Miss Clover, they will cease the progression and become an immortal for their form is neither living nor dead, so it must adjust. Think of it like upgrading something."

"But isn't immortality... well... it's..."

"Incomprehensible to you?"

"Yes," I admit and hang my head. Elysium turns and faces her kingdom, clear blue eyes looking at all below her and her castle's balcony. The only sound is the wind and the filly's busy playing, which still has not ceased.

"It isn't as atrocious as you believe. You may not be as bright as your title of 'the Clever' would suggest but unlike most of the ponies you have known, you still possess the ability to learn."

"...Oh... thank you?"

"Now, I suppose you think that immortality is simply an eternity spent gradually shriveling and forgetting all around you as you descend into senility."

"Yes."

"Well, it is not. Let us say you, Miss Clover the Mortal, were in this position. How old were you when you looked like this?"

"Like this?" I question looking down upon my restored youth. "I was oh, twenty-two? It's been so long."

"If you were an immortal," Elysium continued, "a true immortal, not some sorcerer's twisted fantasy or faux philosopher's attempted drabble you would not age physically past what you are now. Your mind would mature somewhat, and adjust to be able to recall so much more, but there are certain sealing spells that can have a similar effect even after they are dispelled, but you will not be reduced to muttering nonsense simply for existing so long since you seem to under estimate this power as a fraud. Magic is capable of more than you realize, simply living can prove this but there are still vast instances recorded in my library where fates are kept recorded and lost knowledge can be found."

"You control fate?!" I exclaimed, horrified for this must be the greatest impossibility of them all.

"I do not control fate in any way, but I can record what has happened. Do you not have texts that detail your histories? It is like that. If you were like this you'd still be able to learn more, but not everything, I do not know in full what you view me as but immortals are hardly all-knowing and our power is not limitless, even if it can seem like it, but I do not think that you have much knowledge about Alicorns."

"Well, not really..."

"The last change that would be made is hardly a change at all but the magic of somepony who went through this would be enhanced. I know not what else would happen but let us leave this at how glad I am that this will not be occurring if I can prevent it."

"B-but why did you bring me here?" I try to sweep my hoof in an arc but my hoof almost hits the orchid coat of Queen Elysium and none of the effect is kept when I do it.

"Do you really think that you are as evil as Stolas makes you out to be?"

"But I have not done anything worthwhile either!"

"Clover, you are not as clever as your name suggests, but you are not a wicked pony."

"Why did you want to talk to me then?"

There was that strange look in Elysium's eyes again. "Do you know why Stolas failed in teaching Tirek?"

"I do not."

"Stolas taught him only to want power, and to take it. He never taught him what power was, nor did he let Tirek dwell on it, he encouraged him to seek power endlessly and to topple all those who had it is what one of Tirek's goals became."

I wait to see if she will keep talking since I have nothing to say to this. I already knew of the creature that was her son.

"He does not appear to be so but Stolas was always the better teacher of magic than I, which is why he taught Tirek, whose nature I should have noticed, and Scorpan."

Her tone is somber, without a doubt she misses both of them. The filly, Thōdan, has come over to where I talk with her mother. She had created many flower crowns in the time, some which had been transformed into thorns. I still did not know how she could see through that mane of hers. She nudged one of the thorny circlets over to me, looked up at me, and even though I could not see her eyes, the oddly serious look had turned into a small, shy smile that blatantly told me this was a gift.

"If that is true, then who will teach her?" I asked, as I carefully grasped one of the circlets.

Elysium's next look told me all as I looked at this little filly.

After a few nervous gulps, I accepted.