It’s hard to say how love works, even from the most logical standpoint. It is an odd emotion, one that developed around care for another. It keeps friends close, and lovers closer, forever.

In theory, of course, provided that nothing bad happened, or that the feeling died away, or that any sort of trouble arose.

For one ancient alicorn, resting in his castle, it was the scariest thing he had ever faced.

Azrael, former bearer of the Seal of Death, was terrified of the feeling. And yet he absolutely enjoyed it. The warm feelings had been virtually nonexistent for years, following his self-imposed exile after he had unintentionally caused the downfall of the alicorn race. The “fluff,” as a certain pink pony put it, was the best part of the feeling. All those things you wanted to do with your loved one, simplified to just cuddling and thinking and reminiscing. Seemingly simple, yes, but in effect, it was so much more complicated.

He had no experience in the dating department, after all. He was old, yes; but never dated, nor courted, nor romanticized another, for fear of hurting them. But now was different. Now, he felt free of his curse. Father Death (though the entity preferred not to be referred to as such) had told him that love was worthwhile, and he was determined to go through with it.

He glanced at a photo nearby, of him and his lover, Luna. Though they had technically started dating for a mere three months, he supposed that the entirety of the War with Sombra counted as their time together. He never expected to have fallen for her; nor her for him. Both scarred, both willing to admit their mistakes, and both suffering from guilt, and both so very much in love with each other.

The darks attract the darks, he thought, smiling. And from them, a light is born.

He rose from his study, the candles all flickering out. Three months had indeed passed since the war. His age was beginning to show, though he supposed it was mostly from stress. His mane was much longer, and was now had a flash of silver in it. It drifted past his shoulder blades. His robe was now a much more crimson color, deep and royal, rich and luscious. Rarity had made it for him some time after the war, and he couldn’t help but admire how well it looked on him.

He walked over to the washroom to clean up, staring at the mirror. Wise eyes met his, filled with life and joy. He had not felt pure happiness before the war; it seemed that the victory had not only brought them all relief, but to him, a sense of belonging. In those eyes, he saw one of the many reasons why he was so happy. He had made friends, friends who, despite everything, neither judged nor scorned him, nor wanted to betray him. And he saw her; Luna, his marefriend, best friend, and lover, the one who had helped him see past his own darkness and rose to that new light.

His heart and his mind were always at an ease when he was around her, something that he had, at first, been slow to realize. He had truly fallen in love with her. And he realized what he wanted to be with her.

Leaving the washroom, he pressed a hoof against his desk, hearing a small click as a compartment pulled out. Inside was a glorious, silver-blue diamond—a Moon Stone, some might call it. He had had it carved into the shape of a crescent, and written in ancient alicorn tongue were the words “Love Forever.” It was the physical manifestation of a promise he intended to make to her later on. He pocketed the diamond, letting out a weary sigh.

He felt a bead of sweat drop from his forehead. This was it; the next—or final, if things went badly—step in their relationship. He was more scared of the potential consequences of the question than he had been of Sombra.

Whether she said yes or no, though, did not matter as much as if she answered. He knew that he would love her forever, no matter what happened. It was simply what love was like for him; a bond, a covenant, between two friends.

That was all the answer he needed to his if. He smiled nervously. This was the next step in their lives; and he wanted to make it special, perhaps as a way to make up for the time lost in the past.

“Hey, Azzy! Are you ready to go?”

Peeking his head out of his room, he saw Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. With them was a picnic basket, as well as a mat to sit on. He smiled at them. “Hello, Pinkie and Fluttershy. I trust you’ve been well?”

Fluttershy nodded, her smile small. “Yes, thank you for asking. How are you?”

He walked over to them, offering to carry one of the belongings. They handed him the basket. “I’m nervous,” he admitted, shaking his head.

“Don’t be, silly!” Pinkie encouraged, clapping him with her hoof. “I mean, Luna will absolutely love your gift!”

“You really think so?”

“Of course! She loves you! Why wouldn’t she say yes?”

He smiled, his spirits rising. “You may be right. But I won’t know until I ask her, will I?”

He took the lead, leading them out of the castle. Pinkie climbed onto the alicorn’s back while Fluttershy prepared to take off.

A small picnic, maybe some wine, and then the million bit question… May the Goddess Faust smile down upon me…

He flapped his enormous wings, rising up a plume of dust behind him, before lifting himself off the ground. Rotating, he flew off into the western horizon. Fluttershy followed after him.

None of them looked back, choosing instead to only look ahead.

***

“Is he happy?”

Death looked at War in slight confusion. “Who?”

“Azrael,” answered the ancient deity, his voice deep. “Is he happy?”

“What do you mean?” Death asked, still unsure of what War was asking.

War waved a dark-red hoof in the air, producing an intangible screen. On it, they could see Azrael flying with Pinkie and Fluttershy. A closer look revealed what was in his pocket.

Seeing his adopted son’s smile, Death answered, “I am certain that he is happy. I have looked into his heart and mind; he means to propose to the Princess of the Night.”

“And you are certain she will say yes?”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

War grunted, dissipating the projection with a flare of his magic. His bulky armor clanked as he turned to face his fellow entity. “I would imagine that you deeply care for him. Am I correct?”

“Of course.”

“Then it would do you and he well to heed my words.”

Death frowned. War, though not as powerful nor as ancient as Death, was still wise beyond measure, having lived for millenias. If he had something to say, Death could guarantee that it was not something good. “Go on,” he said, waving a hoof.

War stared at him with white-and-blue eyes, the spark of wisdom built from suffering igniting behind them. “If you truly care for him, keep him out of this coming conflict.”

Death blinked. “You know I cannot influence the will of other sentients.”

“No, you cannot. But you can omit their involvement initially.”

“He will not be able to remain outside of the battle for long.”

“No; but it would better for him this way.” War placed his hoof on Death’s cloak-clad shoulder. His eyes softened. “Listen to me, my friend. Their happiness is what keeps the evil at bay. Should anything go wrong, and that happiness vanish, the End of Days will arrive in haste.”

Death waved the hoof away, but also stared evenly back at War. “If he wishes to fight, then I must let him. I hold no control over him.”

“The conflict has no need of him at the moment,” stated War, stepping away. “Let him be. Let them have happiness, as temporary as it may be.”

The older entity considered his friend’s words carefully. “If you believe that to be the right decision, then I suppose I shall adhere to it. But we will be needing their help in the future.”

War nodded. “Indeed. No one is safe from the coming battle.”

“I thought you would not care. As War, should you not be instigating this conflict?”

War shook his head. “In the past, I have. But now, I realize that if I were to hasten what is coming, then it will mean the end for them, the living. We entities will live on, yes, but it will be a terrible existence. Without them, the sentient, the living, the non-entities, we would be lost.” He looked back at Death. “And, whether it be a curse or a blessing, I learned that I had grown to care for this Balance. Life and Death; Peace and War. They are two sides of two coins, but all of them are necessary for the other to exist.”

He fell silent, as did Death. In the chamber no sound arose; not even their breaths could be heard.

“So what now?” Death finally asked.

War flashed his magic, bringing up another projection. They saw a candy-esque train traveling to the east. War’s magic flashed again, and the view zoomed in on two ponies: a pegasus and a young alicorn.

“These two,” said War, “will be involved in another conflict. One that, though it will not need Azrael’s involvement, will inevitably reveal more to what is coming.” He looked to Death. “The Elements of Loyalty and Magic will be facing something massive. Something much larger than the War with Sombra. We must keep an eye on them.”

“The secret of the rainbow pegasi will be revealed.”

“Indeed. Which it is vital that these two are kept safe. That knowledge will be useful in the future.”

Death nodded, though his eyes were sad. “I had hoped not to bring up that terrible memory ever again.”

“No secret remains in the shadows for long, Death. You and I both know this. It is necessary for us—and for them—to see these things, and to understand these things, so that they and we may prepare.”

The projection faded, leaving the two in the chamber, their voices falling. Silence echoed all throughout, but their thoughts were as loud as a concert hall.

Dark days were ahead, illuminated by only the faintest prism. They knew this, and they dreaded it.

Author's Note

If you don't know already, I am writing this story at the request and by the assistance of Azrael (not the character). I know my style of writing is quite different from his, but nonetheless, I hope you still end up enjoying what I write.