Reaper Tales - Eclipsed - Ch. 2 - Cold Hearted

Eclipse hated missions like these. He utterly hated the cold so much, not only because each grain of snow was like a razor blade, but it also reminded him of being frozen solid for two hundred years, just because Blood had been possessed by that aurora thing. And now he was back, waiting by the ruins of the steam tower. He was waiting for four other reapers who had been assigned the same mission as himself.
Sounds were heard, and four ponies appeared around the mountain. Three of them were replacing some missing wheels of a large wagon while the fourth were dragging it. They stopped and the one dragging it, a lime pegasus mare with purple hair and a gold necklace quickly rigged a few tripods under the missing wheels so the others finally could rest. They all collapsed on the ground.
Well. All except one. A light red earth pony stallion with a light brown mane and tail and with a thin moustache was still standing, securing the three tripods so they wouldn't collapse. He then turned to Eclipse. "Sorry that we're late. Three of our wheels broke, and we ran out of replacements." He chuckled. "And it was also too late to call in Pilot Sky and Diamond Hooves for air support."
Eclipse nodded. "I guess you're Director Cut. A famous survivor of Blood's first attack."
"Famous?" Director shook his head. "I don't want to be famous. I'm fine with being unknown, really."
"I see." Eclipse studied him. "And I guess Pilot and Diamond are reapers too."
"They aren't." Director shrugged. "But they were involved in the Rainfall event, and also the Cherrywood event."
Eclipse nodded. "Anyways. When will the others be ready?"
Director looked at them. "Just a few minutes. You should come inside while you wait. No need to stay in the cold."
Eclipse couldn't agree more. He also lifted the three others inside with magic. Then he entered himself.
The inside of the wagon was a lot tidier than he had expected. On the left was the whole side taken up by an oven and a rack that contained different kinds of film equipment, four reaper boxes, all made of beautifully carved wood, books, maps and other navigation equipment. Then there were four beds on the other side, all on the floor. It was clear that the four had to sleep close to each other, but that would only strengthen their bonds. A fifth hammock was suspended, and it was clear that they were intending on keeping him on the team.
Eclipse studied the four boxes. "These are all beautiful."
Director looked at them. "They are. And they're all different."
Eclipse nodded. "That's right. A reaper's box is unique. It's your fingerprint in the organization. Its carved and shaped by your soul when you die and get selected for reaper service, and when you die as a reaper will it turn to ashes." He looked at Director's box. "Just remember. This is your most priced belonging. If the box is broken will you die, as it's chained to your soul. It's everything that makes you a reaper."
Director was a bit surprised to hear this. "Now that's something new."
"That's right." Eclipse sighed. "It's a detail that's normally kept a secret, mostly thanks to the whole Blood Fangs case. You four are lucky that he didn't find your boxes."
Director shrugged. "I guess he never knew that we had a wagon."
Eclipse wanted to reply, but then the rest woke up, and were up on their hooves within seconds. It didn't look like they had been out cold at all either, except for Haze who was as confused as he always was. It was hard enough for him to remember his own name.
"This is the gang." Director grinned and nodded at them. "First we have Mintie Star. She's the first one who actually joined." Mintie smiled and bowed a bit. "And then we have Blue Thunder, who joined a few weeks later. Blue Thunder chuckled. "And also Haze. He came when Blue came." Haze didn't do anything, like he hadn't heard them at all.
Blue shoved Director aside. "And this guy here is Director Cut. He's our leader, whenever he likes it or not. Not even Haze dares to argue with that when he's in his reaper form."
"Hey! I'm not!" Director protested, but Blue shoved a hoof into his mouth.
She grinned. "Sorry about that. He sort of doesn't like leading, but there is nopony more qualified for the job than him."
Director grumbled and walked over to Mintie, who patted his back and smiled.
"Anyways." Eclipse nodded. "Shall we get ready?"
Everypony cheered, except Haze who said "What?" in a really confused tone.
The four reapers did their things to become reapers, Haze with a little help, and then they all headed out. Horror looked at Eclipse. "So what kind of rift are we talking about?"
Eclipse thought. "I honestly don't know, but I have heard rumors about time being distorted close to the rift.
"Well that's interesting." Horror looked around.
Stormy interrupted. "Enough talking you two. We have a mission to do, and that fast. I want to get out of here." She shivered. "I feel that we're being watched, and I don't like that."
Horror growled. "I can feel it too…"
"Well then." Eclipse nodded. "Shall we find out what's watching us?"
Darth star almost set a hoof in Eclipse's face. "You guys are so easily distracted. It's probably the presence of the rift that's making the feeling."
Miasmic nodded. "Yeah. We better seal it fast and then leave this hell."
"Yeah." Horror looked around. "So where is this damn rift?"
Eclipse pointed up. The aurora looked stirred, forming a vortex around a single area of the sky, like this area was sucking it in.
Miasmic sighed. "Now that's not a surprise. That's where the spire of the tower was. I knew it would have some negative effects."
Eclipse nodded. "Yeah. It made a weak spot that was shredded up by the Rainfall Rift."
"Well then…" Stormy nodded. "Shall we fly up and close that thing?"
Eclipse took flight. "Yeah. We should be quick."
The others took flight too and followed Eclipse as he rose upwards. The air soon became filled with microscopic ice shards, but the five reapers ignored the pain. They then surrounded the rift.
"What now!" Horror yelled over the wind.
"You guys focus your magic on me!" Eclipse prepared to cast a spell. "I'll seal the gate!"
They nodded and focused on Eclipse, transferring their magic to him. He then cast the spell.
The rift suddenly sent out a lot of energy before it imploded, sucking in the aurora. Then another explosion occurred, and the rift was sealed. An orb was floating in the air, shining with the colors of the aurora.
Eclipse studied it. He almost instantly backed away. "Dear Celestia!"
Stormy looked in his direction. "What?!"
Eclipse growled. "It's a corrupted core, and It's about to explode!"
The orb suddenly sent out a bright light, but before it got to explode was it hit by a spell, making it vanish.
Eclipse just stared at it. "What in the name of…"
"Someone's down there!" Darth interrupted him and pointed down with her hoof.
Horror looked down first, and he instantly grinded his teeth. "Oh for the love of Celestia! It's Him!"
"Who?!" Eclipse looked confused.
Darth sighed. "Look down and see for yourself!"
Eclipse looked down. He was going to say something, but then the four were already diving down, looking like they were about to attack. He cursed and joined them.
They landed at the same time, whirling the snow into the air. The snow quickly settled.
"Well hello my pretties." The slick voice was impossible to not recognize. The same went for the flaring mane and tail, and the jet-black body.
Horror growled. "How in Equestria are you here, Blood! We killed you!"
Blood chuckled. "You killed me alright. Twice actually. And yet here I am, again."
"So you just can't get enough of dying, eh?" Miasmic laughed sarcastically.
Blood shrugged. "Of course, but let me at least tell you all that I just saved you all from becoming like me."
The four tilted their heads, while Eclipse growled. "What do you mean!"
Blood coughed. "Allow me to explain. That thing was a corrupted core, yes, but a powerful one. You may have though you were safe, but you were still within blast range."
"And?" Eclipse unfolded his wings to prevent the four from unleashing possible attacks.
"A bit more than a hundred years ago will it explode, corrupting a reaper who was on a mission at this exact location." Blood yawned. "I had to do it, or time itself would be shredded to bits by a paradox, the timelines resetting themselves to fix the paradox."
Horror pushed himself past Eclipse. "So you mean you corrupted yourself, just to save everypony?"
Blood nodded. "Indeed."
"But isn't that a good thing?" Horror was confused.
"Well of course!" Blood rolled his eyes.
Eclipse was about to interrupt, but instead ended up getting Horror's back hoof up his mouth.
"Then please explain when an evil pony like you can do a good thing…." Horror was not amused.
"Easy." Blood grinned a grin that sparkled like the night sky during a meteor shower. "That core was my corruption. And before you ask, yes, it's a paradox too, but it's not big enough to actually be a problem."
Horror stared at him, also pulling his back hoof out of Eclipse's mouth. He then turned and moved over to the others. They started discussing something.
Blood looked at Eclipse. "You okay?"
Eclipse growled. "I'm fine, but my mouth hurts… Death never warned me about this…"
Blood chuckled. "But I bet he have told you about their skill. You can't find better reapers even if you traveled through time."
"How do you know…" Eclipse hissed.
"Calm down dude." Blood backed a bit away. "They've defeated me twice already. That's quite the task."
Eclipse was about to reply when Horror once again pushed him aside. "We have come to an agreement. You shall be allowed to live for now, but to be safe will we have to take you with us."
Eclipse pushed back. "What?!"
Horror grinned, just to get his face bashed in with two well-placed back-hooves.
Eclipse growled. "We don't even have beds enough!"
Stormy tackled Eclipse. "Calm down!"
"Hmm." Blood though. "We can always share a bed, like good old days."
Silence followed.
Blood sighed. "Eclipse. Can't you ever forgive me?"
Eclipse got back up. "Follow me, Blood." His voice was cold as ice. "And you four can stay here…"

Several hours passed before the two returned. They both looks fairly beat up, but their tone were a lot happier than before.
Eclipse was actually grinning.
Horror shrugged. "I guess you two had a duel to settle thing, right?"
Eclipse nodded. "And we've also set things back the way they were before this all happened."
Blood smirked. "Even that thing, right?"
Eclipse smiled. "Yeah."
"That's good. But we should be moving now. The next rift has been found now." Horror sighed. "But who'll be using the hammock?"
Both Blood and Eclipse smiled.
Darth nudged Horror. "Enough questions. We better get going."
The four younger reapers changed back while Blood and Eclipse headed into the wagon, which now had new wheels made from scrap metal.
Director looked at Blue and Mintie. "Do you think that the are…"
Both the girls nodded.
Mintie giggled. "And I find it cute, actually."
Director nodded in return and then he started pulling the wagon, setting the path to new adventures ahead of them, with a new and large gang, leaving the Ice Wastes for the very last time.