Twilight's Contract with Death

"Good to be back in Equestria again," He says as his portal opens up inside of one of the many hallways inside of Canterlot's Castle. He looks around and sees that he is alone. "Well looks like I can do this without scaring anypony to my name," He says as he turns his head to the side and pops his neck before his horn glows and his disguise fades leaving him in his natural boney state.

Meanwhile, Princess Luna sits in her throne in the throne room, talk with the guards to pass the time, since there hasn’t been anypony to talk to all day and royal business has been slow lately.

"Yes Your Highness, I must admit it's strange that Princess Celestia hasn't been here for a while. Is she ok?" One of the guards asks before a knock echoes in the room, coming from the large double doors.

“We might have our answer. I have a feeling who it is…” the night princess says in a dry voice, her eyes squinting towards the large double doors.

Slowly the doors open and reveal the being who Luna believed it was. "The beautiful Princess of the Night, it's good to see you again," Death says with a polite edge to his voice as he gives her a slight bow.

Luna signals to the guards to stand down and be at ease. “He means no harm,” she says to them, getting up from her throne and approaches the cloaked figured. “It has been a while since we last met. How is my sister doing under your care?”

"She told me to tell you that she sends her greetings and that she is doing fine," He says with a grin under the hood of his cloak. "Your Guards do know that they aren't to speak of any of this, yes?”

“Correct.” Luna pauses. “So my sister is doing well, you say?”

"Yes and she has had her first foal. A filly as a matter of fact, a very pretty little Pegasus," He says and then uses his magic to make an image of the filly appear in the air between them like a window.

“Hmmm, she is adorable, I will say,” Luna grins as she looks at the picture. “She has her eyes.”

"That she does. Now I believe there was some matters you and I needed to discuss correct?" He asks as his horn ceases to glow and the image of the young filly fades away.

“Yes. You said you have plans for the next pony to serve you. Twilight Sparkle, isn’t it?”

"Yes I do. She sent me a letter saying that she wants to make a deal with me. The same ten years your sister serves for the immortality of her five friends.”

“Hmm, I see. What sort of plans do you have in store for her, if I may ask, not that it’s going to leave this room.”

"For now that will be for she and I to discuss when she comes face to face with me once more," He replies with a smile that was hidden under the cowl of his hood.

Luna sighs softly. “Understood. What is your message to me then?”

"I would actually like to discuss plans to build more onto Canterlot’s castle. I have some plans that I want to run by you and your experts and also, here is Twilight's letter," He says as from under his cloak, two rolled up pieces of parchment float out and float before her.

She uses her aura to read Twilight’s contract. “It’s interesting to see that Twilight would like to see her friends around for a while longer, considering she is immortal but they aren’t.”

"Friendship is a tricky thing, my fair Princess. Sometimes it will lead you down impossible paths to save them and keep them around. I once saw a pony so desperate to save her friend that she begged me to make a deal with her; take her as my slave till she died to keep her friend alive.”

“Really now? Was her friend sick? Near death?” Luna asks the cloaked figure.

"Near death, a disease that still to this day has no cure but is so rare that it hasn't popped up in... say fifty or so years. I saved her from it, and I kept my agreement with that mare till the day she joined the Eternal Herd.”

“I see. So you aren’t as heartless as others make you out to be then, yes?”

"No I'm not. Ponies always think I am heartless," He replies with a giggle and then looks over at the Guards.

“Hmmm, interesting to know, to say the least, huh?”

"Yes it is my Princess.”

“Anyway, there are matters you wanted to discuss regarding the castle here, yes? They regard what will happen when Twilight is in your care?” Luna asks Death, wanting to know the reason for his visit as per his letter to her ahead of time.

"Correct. Now shall we retire to your chambers to make sure this is all private?”

Luna nods to him. “Follow me then.”

"Lead the way," He replies and then nods to the Guards before following Luna out of the throne room.

The lunar princess leads Death out of the throne room and towards her private chambers, leading him down a narrow, but high ceilinged corridor with many painting and stained glass portraits decorating the otherwise empty space.

"You know Princess... I keep forgetting the wonders you all go through and triumph at over these long years. It really is something that can boggle the mind," He says as he looks at one of the large stained glass window.

“Why do you ask that? I’m curious.”

"It's just something I really never considered. Looking at these..." He says and then nods to one of Twilight and her friends after they had beaten Discord. "I realize how strong you'd have to be to endure.”

“Ah yes, that one. That was dedicated to Twilight Sparkle and her friends before I… returned to the public eye,” Luna comments on the particular window.

"I see. After the one year you spent regaining your strength after the Elements purified you?" He asks, commenting on his knowledge of some of the events.

“Yes… that’s correct. You were informed about those set of events, yes?”

"Some of them yes. Some ponies who died where able to tell me of certain ones. Now where is that room of yours?”

“Just a few doors down from the window,” she mentions taking a few more steps down the hall before stopping at a large set of doors.

"Ever think that double doors for your chambers is a bad idea?" Death asks as he looks at the dark blue doors and sees small crescent moons, much like the one her Cutie Mark resembles along the edges of each of the doors.

“Because of the possibility of others listening in on me?” she asks as she opens her doors, leading to her room.

"That and if the castle was invaded they'd have a bigger entrance into your room," He says as he follows her inside and closes the doors with his magic and sees a few documents on the table. "Already have some kind of plan in mind?”

“Generally yes, but I believe you wanted to save those important details for here yes?” Luna asks Death as they sit opposite each other at the table.

"Yes I did. Now let's talk," He says as he pulls back the cowl of his hood to make himself comfortable as they begin talk of the castle's new additions.

“You said you wanted to add onto the castle, as per your plans with Twilight, yes?”

"Yes I did and these are some of what I had in mind," He says as he pulls out a roll of parchment and sets it down beside the notes that Luna had.

Luna looks at the parchment. “Looks like you have a lot of plans for her?”

"Yes I do. She is going so far to keep her friends alive that she said she's willing to do anything I ask of her. I am surprised by her resolve to keep her friends alive.”

“I am too, but then again, they are her closest friends since she arrived here in Ponyville, from what my sister has told me. What plans do you have for her that would cause these new additions?”

"For now, I would recommend a very large nursery. You're going to need it.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting you’re going to be doing with her?” Luna asks, raising an eyebrow.

"That all depends. What do you think I'll be doing?" He asks and tilts his head a little to the side.

“Are you going to be breeding her?” the princess asks bluntly.

"Yes I am. Quite a lot with some of the items I have that'll make sure she wants it.”

“Hmm, quite interesting indeed. Not what you had in store for my sister, yes?”

"No, she has something different happening with her entirely. But she did have our foal so there is one member of the Royal Family that isn't an Alicorn like yourselves.”

“I see now. So when their contracts are up, this is where the new foals, whether it be by my sister or Twilight, will be housed and raised?”

"Yes. But Twilight may keep a few of hers with her in her castle. I have a feeling that she has more rooms than she knows what to do with.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it, considering how big it is, seeing it for myself,” Luna replies with a soft chuckle.

He nods his head and chuckles a little in turn. "Can you have these done in about nine years? Celestia's term may have only started but I think you'd want it done before hoof.”

“I think I can. Maybe I can have it rented out and tested with some lucky expecting mothers to be in Canterlot to see how it lives up to their expectations.”

"Good. Don't want anything to go wrong with them before Celestia's little one will be here.”

“Of course not. I’ll have my best architects working on it to ensure it’s perfect.”

"Good. Despite what ponies may think, I do have a soft spot for the foal she and I have and soon Twilight's foals and mine.”

“I see. That’s good to know right?” Luna replies, smiling softly.

"Yes it is. I would want my foals to have good and fruitful lives, but I will be having my son one day take over.”

“I understand. So he would assume your role one day, should you have one, correct?”

"Yes, and I'll be sticking around till I feel he's ready to take the mantle on full.”

“I see. That will be quite a thing to see, yes?” Luna says to him, taking the plans from Death and wrapping them up with a ribbon to tie it together.

"Yes it will," He says and then nods his head to her and pulls the cowl of his hood back up. "Excuse me Princess... I must be going. Twilight is waiting for me back at her castle.”

“Understood Death. Care to escort me back to my throne, since I now know you solely don’t possess a heart of darkness?”

Death chuckles a little and then stands up and offers her a hoof. "Of course I will.”

“Very well then. Follow me again,” Luna nods to him as she opens the doors again with the plans inside her magical aura.

"No need Princess. I know the way now," He says as he takes her hoof but lets her take the lead.

She nods and takes a slight lead in front of Death, leading him back to the throne room. “Tell me, from whom did you inherit this… title, so to speak?”

"My father a very, very long time ago. If I can recall right... not too long after you and your sister were crowned by the three races.”

“Hmm I see. So I guess that gives away your age a bit then, hmm?” Luna chuckles lightheartedly.

"Yes it does," He replies and then opens the throne room doors with his magic. "Now have a good nine years Princess Luna. You'll have your sister back and maybe with another one or two in addition to her current foal.”

“Understood.” She nods to him as she looks into the massive throne room again. “I will be anxious to talk with my sister again. It is quite dull without her here to talk to.”

"I understand that. But don't worry, she'll be ok and you'll have more family.”

“To look after for sure, correct?”

"Yes. Now I must be off.”

“Fare thee well, Death. I trust you’ll continue to care for my sister and Twilight,” Luna nods to him respectively with a small grin.

"I will. Now fair thee well," He says and then vanishes in a flash of light.

The lunar princess looks where the figure had just stood in front of her and sees that he is gone. She smirks again and enters the throne room, sitting on her throne again with the plans in her possession. “Guards?” she asks one of them in a soft tone.

"Yes Your Majesty?" The guard says and quickly stands at attention.

“Contact the castle architects and let them meet me by my chambers later in the afternoon today.”

"Yes Princess!" He says and quickly gives her a salute before rushing past her to get the ponies she requested.

Luna nods and looks at the rolled up pieces of paper in her possession, knowing that this addition to the castle will be welcoming for the numerous new additions that would be coming to the castle soon enough.