It was a question that perplexed Delmar, and one he never thought he would be asked.

Friends...with Death?

Of course he had friends back in Limbo, but they were far and few. But a true, genuine friend will fight and argue with you and will still stick around.

Luna fit that category, friend, and she hardly knew him. Personally that is.

But Delmar could say the same, he hardly knew Luna.

How else are you supposed to make friends? Buy them? Probably.

But not here, not now. She was asking, a request that still shook Delmar.

"You want to be friends with a being like me?" Delmar asked as the scene changed from space to a planets surface, a gas giants atmosphere with suspended rocks, one they were currently seated on.

"I mean...I know we just met, and we just almost killed each other, but I think I learned more about friendship from that than anything I have learned from my other friends I have accumulated over the years."

"Care to elaborate?" Delmar was still unconvinced she was serious, but Luna is always serious when it came to personal relationships. Especially friends.

"I mean, you played a prank on me, and I got angry. I did something out of revenge, and we both suffered because of it. Then we fought for real here, in the Dream Realm, and look at us now. Beaten, and almost dead, listening to music, and watching the stars together and having a proper conversation. If anything, I learned that if you fight with somebody, but you still tolerate their presence, that means something." Luna stared out into the sea of stars, in tranquil tandem with her speech.

"Friends are people that know your buttons, and press them constantly, but you care enough for them to do the same, and you still talk to each other. That is true friendship, and one I think we physically acted out."

Delmar was speechless, and couldn't find a better reason than to trust her judgement.

"Alright Luna, we can be friends. Although, your sister will be surprised to hear about this."

"Yeah, she will. Maybe we can spice her tea or something and do this all-"

"No Luna, I will not do that to a sun princess."

The light was returning, both of them regaining consciousness as the music faded and the endless void of space retreated into light. All Delmar heard was begging for spicing Celestia's tea.

Both awoke to the sounds of nighttime silence. They must have been out for a while...

Delmar and Luna had splitting headaches, which was cured by ice cold water from the motherly princess herself. Giggling at each others expense.

Celestia ended day court early and decided to see how the little troublemakers were doing, as soon as she walked in, both were on the ground clutching their heads.

"Y'know, you both kind of deserve this. Those eggs took me all morning, just trying to get the taste right. And you both go and ruin them, I don't know what to say." Celestia said with tease ever so present in her voice.

"Yeah yeah, whatever sun-butt." Delmar said while shooting a glance at Celestia, who responded with a smile and a chuckle.

"Now now. No reason to be so prude Delmar."

Delmar just sighed as he drank his water, Luna on the other hand groaned.

"Guess I should raise the moon..."

"Already taken care of Lulu, mayhaps it was off by a few hours. I was expecting you both to snap out of it a while ago. Guess that pepper was more formidable than I expected...Delmar, you wouldn't have any with you now do you?" Celestia smiled at Delmar, making Delmar slightly nervous.

"No...I used the last of it on Luna." He lied. He had plenty at his disposal, but he fibbed so he wouldn't do it again.

At least that's what he told himself.

They all had a good laugh, which was followed by a long silence.

"So...Tia I made a new friend."

Breaking the ice with a fucking sledgehammer, Luna looked at Celestia with a sheepish grin.

"So you both settled your differences and became friends?"

Both Delmar and Luna nodded.

"Then it is written, any friend of Lulu is a friend of mine!" Celestia said with a cheer like a little school girl.

Delmar was silent, while Luna looked surprised. Actually they both were surprised.

"Hey look Delmar, you made your second friend today!" Luna being Luna, not liking awkward silences, shook Delmar out of his spur.

"O-oh. Very well then. Happy to be friends with you to Princess Celest-"

"Please just Celesta when we are in private. I hate that title when close friends are around."

Delmar smiled, as he could relate to her reasoning. Delmar was so much more simpler, although Lord of Death had its moments.

"So..." Celestia looked at Delmar with a curious glance.

"Yes?"

"Lord of Limbo...isn't that the dance routine where you go under a bar and go low as you can go?"

Luna spit out her water and laughed, while Delmar shook his head.

After a long discussion of what Limbo is and how it is part of the Three Kingdoms of the Afterlife, Celestia passed out from her attentive listening. She was kind, but also over-exerted herself Delmar noticed.

Celestia forced herself to be polite, Delmar can see the cracks in her mask as she really wanted to sleep when she first arrived to check on them. Delmar would like to ask Celestia to not do that, as it would cause problems in later discussions if she pretended to be nice.

That was another thing, was she really his friend? Having ponies as friends is weird but they have their moments. Luna was a big yes, as she proved herself to be a real friend. But Celestia? She hasn't proven herself, but Delmar didn't want to press the issue.

They left Celestia to slumber, while Luna and Delmar went to get something to eat. Luna made triple sure he wasn't going to attempt to kill her again with that horrible pepper, and if he did try she would repeat what they did today.

Delmar was far to hungry and tired to use magic, so it was safe for now.

They made their way to the dinning room, then into the kitchen. All the night staff was on leave due to Luna's little escapade with Delmar. They had the whole kitchen to themselves.

They made pancakes, as it was Luna's favorite. Delmar made his own chocolate cinnamon, while Luna made blueberry and cream.

Each had three pancakes, and ate them right away.

They didn't talk, wanting to eat what they missed all day on: food for magic.

After another five sets of pancakes later, both were stuffed and happy. Taking a long gulp of milk, Delmar burped and laid back in his chair. Luna raising a hoof and shouted "Five points!"

After relishing in the warmth of fresh food in their belly's, both Delmar and Luna made small talk. Luna explaining Equestrian society, the Elements of Harmony, all the rulers, including one named Twilight Sparkle who was the same one Delmar saw a few days ago. The screaming purple one.

Luna clarified that the little dragon she was almost always with was not a pet, but was an assistant that Twilight got as a gift and raised herself. Delmar was impressed with actually how complex these society's were.

After Luna was finished, Delmar reciprocated by giving her more information of Earth and his dimension. The technological feats of many races of various planets, the eventual end of all life in a universe and it's rebirth (which Luna found very intriguing), and explaining more about the Three Kingdoms: Paradise, Limbo, and Hell.

Then, Luna sat silent for a moment and asked a very difficult question, as she wanted to make sure her assumption was not wrong.

"So Delmar, what is the real reason you are here? In Equestria? I feel like you have a sort of motivation other than just boredom."

Delmar sighed, he knew this question would come up eventually.

"Honestly? I...I got tired."

Luna waited for more, but none came.

"That's it? Just tiredness?"

"Well think about what I'm saying Luna. I have been ruling for almost a billion years. Killing and gathering souls to keep balance in my dimension. Paradise and Hell used to be ancient enemies, but with Limbo they have almost an alliance of sort. I made that happen, and I was promoted as a High Council member."

Luna remembered him mentioning that, the High Council was a group of representatives of each Kingdom, quadruple checking and assessing the conditions of all life, even influencing other places such as Equestria, but remained solely to Delmar's dimension, as Delmar could only influence Death in that dimension. Paper makes things easier to explain.

"I still don't understand why you are here, I just assumed maybe your here because of the stress of being Death."

Delmar was silent, then glanced back up at Luna with a soft expression.

"I just got tired...I don't think stress was a part of it. It seems likely, but Luna..."

He leaned over to her, getting really close. Almost distraught was the only thing Luna could make out from his expression.

"...even I don't know why I'm here, really. I told everybody I wanted a vacation and that was that. No real reason. Just...I just wanted some peace."

Luna sighed "I guess as rulers of any kingdom or empire, we all eventually want some peace. I suppose that's universal."

Delmar sat back, and stared at the ceiling, pondering about the question he was about to ask.

"Do you ever want peace? Like maybe a small break from Dreams?"

Luna sat on this question, she hadn't really thought about it.

"I suppose some nights there are those nightmares that spook me. These ponies have it hard with the recent issues with the other empires. But during the day they act like nothing is wrong, even my sister suffers from this..."

Delmar listened attentively, although made sure he was listening to every detail.

"Some nights, her dreams are nothing, blank. Just her in complete darkness crying... I wish I could help her, but I just don't know how... She never speaks of her blank dreams, she just smiles and pretends to be happy. Delmar, I'm afraid for her. I'm afraid one day she'll snap and hurt somepony or herself..."

Delmar got up from his seat and placed a bony hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok Luna, maybe I can help. I have encountered many souls in my life that needed some counseling. They wanted peace, and so I gave them the option through just talking with me. But I can't do it alone, I need your help."

Luna pondered this, she really didn't want him to get involved, but he has way more experienced than she or anybody Luna knew could muster.

Luna placed a hoof on his hand "I will help of course, she is my sister after all. I just want her to be happy..."

Delmar looked quizzically at the ceiling, in the general direction of Celestia's room.

"Can you tell if she is having one of those blank dreams now?"

Luna looked at where Delmar was staring, and lit her horn. She closed her eyes and entered the Dream Realm for a brief moment. Celestia was dreaming soundly, in a meadow full of life. She wasn't smiling however, but at least she was somewhat at peace.

Luna opened her eyes and glanced downward for a moment. "She's ok, but she isn't happy. It seems more wishful than anything really."

Delmar sighed "When should we talk to her?"

"Soon, but right now I think it's best to head to bed. You and I have exhausted ourselves today." Luna smiled as she started to trot out of the dining area.

"You make it sound so lewd Luna..."

Luna blushed and shot an angry glace at Delmar, who raised his hands in defense.

"Hey, I'm not judging! You have your kinks and whatnot..."

Luna scrunched her face "Excuse me, I would never even consider doing such things with the likes of you! Do you even have genitalia?"

"I mean...I can make it any size I want." Delmar had both pointed fingers in the air and twirled them around and sang "Bigger, better, stronger, faster, harder..."

Luna huffed and walked to the dining room door, Delmar not far behined.

Delmar started to follow her, but paused as he took a glance into the kitchen.

It was a complete mess, as pancake batter, chocolate chips, crushed blueberry, and cream were all over the counter and walls.

"Maybe we should clean our mess up..." Delmar suggested as he walked back into the kitchen.

Luna huffed again and trotted in after him "Fiiine...I hate cleaning."

"Maybe you should have thought about that as you were using the batter and blueberry's as weapons to try and beat me with them." Delmar teased.

"You can say whatever you want, I still won."

"Yeah, winning the mop."

"Hush you."

And so they both spent the rest of the night cleaning their battlefield of pancakes and pancake batter.

Author's Note

I saw this picture which gave me the idea for the ending of this chapter.