The Star’s Sacrifice
In a flash of blue magic, Luna and Midnight Star appeared in a dimly lit room with a few shelves of books lining the stone walls. Midnight shook his head from the teleport. “L-Luna, what is going on? What’s gotten into you?” Midnight asked.
Luna looked to Midnight with a saddened expression. “Midnight, I cannot bear to watch you wither away in time as I live on, I cannot face eternity without you. Please try to understand. I don’t want to be alone anymore.” She looked to the side as she hung her head.
Midnight walked up to her and used a hoof to make her look at him. “But you’re not alone Luna. What about your sister?”
“I am glad to be with her, but she provides a different kind of comfort. The kind I am wanting cannot come from family. Don’t you see Midnight? I….I just want to be loved.”
“You are loved Luna, weren’t you welcomed back by the ponies of Equestria when you were released from your confinement?” Midnight argued.
“Some have welcomed me and accepted me yes, but there are still those that see me as Nightmare Moon. I need this Midnight, please don’t deny me this.” Luna begged.
“What about these consequences your sister mentioned? What did she mean by that?” Midnight gave a worried look.
“She was just trying to scare me, please Midnight Star, let me make you immortal so we can be together forever.” Luna pleaded.
As Midnight Star gazed into Luna’s eyes, he could see the desperation and pain she was feeling. “Luna….could I really accept living forever? What about my dad? Well….he’ll pass away one day anyways, but still. Then again, I….I don’t want to hurt Luna’s feelings. I love her.” Those thought struck a cord in his heart. “I love her.” He thought again.
Luna looked on in worry at Midnight as he seemed deep in thought.
“….All right Luna, I’ll do it, I’ll let you make me immortal so we can be together.” Midnight finally answered.
Luna gave a smile. “Thank you Midnight.”
“Is there anything I need to do? Where are we anyway?”
“No, you need not do anything. This room is where we keep some of the more powerful spells. There is an enchantment on the room so only an alicorn can enter. The only way for an ordinary pony to enter is with an alicorn.” Luna explained.
“So what now?” Midnight asked.
“Just stand still and I will initiate the spell.” Luna closed her eyes and lit up her horn. Light blue lines began to appear and looked as if they were being drawn on the floor by an invisible force around Midnight. One by one, they connected to one another and eventualy formed a pentagram with two circles around it. One circle enveloping another with strange symbols between the circles. The lines grew brighter and a kind of dome formed around Midnight. It was see through but still had a light blue tinge to it.
“Luna, is that supposed to happen?” Midnight asked with worry as he saw a shadow form under him that pulsated and moved.
Luna opened her eyes and saw what he was talking about. “What? Wh-what is that, that was not part of the spell?” She said.
Midnight looked back to Luna with more worry. “You did read the whole spell didn’t you?”
“I’m sure I did.” Luna answered back.
The shadow moved from under Midnight to behind him and grew in size, as did the pentagram. Luna was forced to step back away from the circle that grew. Midnight stepped back from his position away from the shadow. Midnight was stopped by the wall of the dome. The shadow rose from the ground and appeared to become solid. A bony muzzle emerged from the shadowy form. The shadow seemed to become like a cloak, the bottom of it appeared gaseous. A pair of red glowing eyes were seen from the darkness of the newly formed hood.
“Luna?” Midnight said with fear and dread. “What is that thing?”
“I-I don’t know.” Luna answered back, equally afraid.
“A pact to be made. For immortality, you must make a trade.” The thing spoke with a dark demonic like voice.
“Wh-wh-who are you?” Midnight asked.
“I am death, master of life, to the living, I am strife.” The cloaked figure answered.
“It can’t be….the grim reaper. It is death itself.” Luna said. Her face had contorted to one of horror. “What are you doing here?” She asked.
“A pact you wish to make, summoned me you have. So now before you, here I stand.” The dark one explained.
“But…I used a spell to grant immortality.” Luna reasoned.
“Immortality is not one to give, I am the one to decide if for eternity one will live.”
Midnight Star was too shaken up to say anything as he trembled before this creature of death. The mere presence of him gave off a feeling of hopelessness and dread. The air smelled of death itself as well.
Luna’s expression changed to curiosity. “So….you can make Midnight Star immortal?”
“A pact to be made, for immortality you must make a trade.” The creature repeated his first line since appearing.
“A…a trade? What kind of trade?” Midnight managed to ask out.
Death turned his eerie stare on Midnight which caused him to shrink back. “Immortality must be taken in order for it to be given.”
“Taken….but only my sister and I are immortal. Are you saying one of us must give up our immortality in order to make one immortal?” Luna asked.
The dark being turned it’s red eyes back to Luna. “That is the deal, that is the pact, it must be made, this is a fact.”
Luna hung her head and closed her eyes. “I see…this must be the consequences my sister tried to warn me about.” Luna looked back up. “Then….then I want to cancel the spell, I will not sacrifice mine or my sister’s immortality!” She declared.
The shadowy figures red eyes grew brighter. “You have summoned me, I cannot go, not until the pact is made, I did not come here for a show.”
It was then that Celestia burst in through a door off to the side. “Luna! Where are…..” Celestia paused as she looked over to the scene and saw Luna standing just outside a dome of magic made by a glowing pentagram on the floor. Midnight star near the edge of the dome facing down a large dark figure with red glowing eyes. “No….sister what have you done?!” Celestia cried out.
Luna looked to Celestia with fear. “Sister, I….I’m sorry I….”
Her words were cut off as Death suddenly stood taller. Bony hooves were seen now coming from the bottom of the cloak. A bony had reached out towards Celestia. A white glow enveloped Celestia as she started to cry out in pain. “AAAAAAHHHHHH!” The light began draining from her to the bony hand of death and started forming an orb.
“SISTER!” Luna cried out. She turned to Death and banged her hooves on the dome. “STOP IT! PLEASE! I beg of you don’t do this!”
Death ignored the please as he continued to drain Celestia of her immortality. The draining soon stopped, Celestia fell to the floor on her side. Luna rushed over to her sister and held her head in her hooves. “Luna….” Celestia weakly said as she raised a hoof. Her mane and tail had lost all color and no longer flowed as it once did.
“Sister, what have I done? I’m so sorry, I….I didn’t know this would…..I should have listened to you.” Tears escaped Luna’s eyes.
Midnight was speechless. He could only watch in horror as Celestia was drained of her immortality and left helpless. He looked back up at Death. “Don’t do this, I don’t want immortality anymore, not if it means having to take it from somepony else, give it back!” He declared, having found his voice.
Death looked down upon him as he held a glowing white orb. “You are not the one that made this start, you are to merely play your part.” The dark figured brought out another bony hand and raised the orb above his head. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, upon you immortality, I now thrust!”
“WAIT, I OFFER YOU MY SOUL!” Midnight cried out. This declaration caused the dark reaper of souls to pause.
Luna looked up from her sister to Midnight. “Midnight?”
“I offer you my soul, in exchange for returning Celestia’s immortality!” Midnight declared.
Death lowered the magic orb to his chest and lowered himself a bit so his cloak touched the ground again. “You offer yourself for another’s soul? Such a sacrifice, I can condole.”
“Midnight NO!” Luna cried out. She carefully placed her sister’s head down and galloped up to the dome, she placed her hooves to it as she looked at Midnight. “Please Midnight, you can’t!”
Midnight Star looked to Luna with a smile. “I’m sorry Luna, but I have to do this. You didn’t know this was going to happen. Equestria needs Celestia more than it needs me.”
“But I need you, I love you Midnight.” Luna argued as tears escaped.
“I know you do, and I love you, that’s why I’m doing this. Not just because Equestria needs Celestia, like it needs you, but because you need her, and she needs you. I know it will be hard, but please try to move on. You deserve happiness.”
“I can be happy with you, please Midnight…..I….” Luna was sobbing openly.
Midnight walked up to the edge of the dome and placed a hoof on it. “Luna, I’m doing this because I love you, and I don’t want to see you cry over your sister. Do you really want to face eternity without her?”
“I….I…no…I can’t….I don’t want to imagine what it would be like without her….but Midnight…” Luna tried to argue.
“I know Luna, but like I said, both you and Equestria need her more than you need me.” Midnight turned to face Death. “I’m ready, return Celestia’s immortality, and take my soul.”
“Such a noble act, I have never seen. Immortality, I will redeem.” Death spread his bony hands apart and send the orb flying back out of the dome. It hovered over to Celestia and entered her body. She began to glow white for a moment before her mane and tail were returned to their former glory.
Celestia slowly stood up and placed a hoof to her head.
“Sister!” Luna cried out as she galloped over to Celestia. She nearly tackled her elder sister in a hug. “I’m so sorry sister, I should have listened to you!”
Celestia hugged back as she nuzzled Luna. “It’s all right Luna, I forgive you. I’m sorry I wasn’t more understanding. I should have spoken to you more about all this.”
“Sister.” Luna buried her head in her sister’s barrel.
After a moment, the two looked over to the dome. They walked over to it to address Midnight. “Midnight Star, thank you for your sacrifice.”
“I’m sorry about all this princess, this is partly my fault for agreeing to letting Luna making me immortal.” Midnight responded.
Celestia shook her head. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
Midnight gave a nod to Celestia. He turned to face Death again. “I’m ready.”
“The pact that was made has been undone, this night your life you have won.”
“What? Wait….you mean…” Midnight stuttered out.
“The sacrifice you were willing to make, your life now I cannot take.”
Midnight cocked an eyebrow in confusion. He still wasn’t sure he understood.
Death saw the confusion and actually seemed to roll his eyes. “Look, you get to live, all right? Luna cast a spell to make you immortal. Immortality has to be taken from another so it can be given to somepony else. Since you were the one that was going to be made immortal, you’re willing to give your life up for Celestia’s sake cancelled the pact. I gave Celestia her immortality back and you get to live. Get it now?” Death explained irritably. “Sheesh, try to be all threatening and speak in rhyme, and what do I get? I got souls to reap so if there isn’t anything else, I’m outta here.” In a brilliant flash of lightning, the grim reaper and the pentagram vanished.
The three were left stunned at what just happened. It was about two minutes before Midnight finally broke the silence. “Well….that was…..interesting.” Was all he had to say.
Once everypony collected their thoughts, they were able to converse normally. Luna looked up to her sister first. “Sister, I am so sorry for not listening to you. Because of me, you almost died. Can you ever forgive me?” Luna hung her head.
Celestia raised Luna’s head with a hoof and gave her a smile. “It’s all right Luna, I forgive you. Like I said, I should have spoken to you more and been a better sister to support you.” Luna gave a smile of her own. The two shared a hug then. After they broke their hug, they turned their attention to Midnight. “Midnight Star, I can’t thank you enough for the sacrifice you were willing to make for me and all of Equestria.”
Midnight gave a bow to Celestia. “I’m just glad everything turned out okay and things are pretty much back to normal. I think it best we just put all this behind us and forget it.”
“Agreed.” Celestia gave a nod.
Luna approached Midnight star. “Midnight, I’m also sorry for putting you in such a position. I let my emotions get the better of me again like when I became Nightmare moon. Not only did my sister suffer for my actions, but I could have lost you as well.”
Midnight gave a smile. He leaned his head closer and kissed Luna on the cheek. “Like I said, I’m just glad we can put all this behind us and move on.”
Luna smiled from the kiss. “Luna, there is still a way to make Midnight immortal, if the two of you are still wanting to do that.” Celestia suddenly said.
Both Luna and Midnight looked at Celestia with curious expressions. “What? How? Sister, don’t tell me you’re actually wanting to give up your immortality?” Luna said.
Celestia giggled. “No, of course not. What I mean is that there is a way we can make Midnight immortal without having to give up immortality.”
“But….what about what death said?” Midnight asked. “He said that immortality had to be taken in order for another to be made immortal.”
“According to the spell Luna used, yes.” Celestia corrected.
The two continued with their confused looks.
“Luna, the spell you used was from a spell book with dark magics in it.” Celestia pointed out.
“It…it was?” Luna asked.
“Didn’t you even bother to read the title of the book or look through the entire spell?” Celestia asked with a smirk.
Luna gave a blush of embarrassment. “I…may have only….skimmed it.” She admitted.
Celestia rolled her eyes. “There is a spell to grant immortality without one having to sacrifice theirs. To be honest, I thought that was the spell you were going to use Luna. And….I may have made the consequences of the spell sound more serious than what it actually was.” It was Celestia’s turn to look a little embarrassed.
“Okay, so what are the consequences of this other spell you’re talking about?” Midnight asked.
“A sore horn for a few weeks.” Celestia admitted.
Midnight facehoofed.
“Celestia?” Luna asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Well I didn’t think it was a dark spell you were talking about when you said you found a spell to make Midnight immortal.” Celestia admitted quickly. She cleared her throat. “*Ahem* In any case, let’s get back to the matter at hoof. Midnight, do you still wish to be made immortal so you can stay with my sister forever?”
Midnight put a hoof to his chin in thought as he looked up. He glanced at Luna with a smile. “Well…..sure, why not? I do love her, and I would do anything for her to make her happy. So yes, I am willing to be made immortal.”
Luna suddenly cut in. “But wait, sister, what about that other stuff you said about this being forbidden or something? About how it isn’t our place to meddle in the cycle of life with mortals?”
Celestia gave an embarrassed smile as she looked to the side with a blush. “I….may have exaggerated a bit there too. It won’t really be that big a deal if it’s just one pony.”
Luna gave a light glare at Celestia. “Sister, how could you?”
“Luna, I swear I will make it up to you somehow. For now, let me do this for you and make Midnight an immortal like us so you two can be together.”
Luna gave a sigh. “Very well.”
Celestia turned back to Midnight star. “Are you ready?”
Midnight gave a nod. “I’m ready.”
Celestia closed her eyes and lit up her horn with her yellow aura. Midnight’s body was soon enveloped in the same glow. He started to levitated off the ground a few feet, the glow grew brighter and brighter. Luna raised a hoof and closed an eye. Midnight body was soon encased in an orb of light. The magic swirled around him violently. The magic soon erupted in a brilliant flash that blinded Luna.
Once her vision returned, Luna looked to see Celestia lying on the ground panting. “Celestia, are you all right?” She asked as she helped her sister up.
“I’m fine, though my horn will be sore for a while.” Celestia winced a little from the pain she felt in her horn.
“Whoa, what the…” Midnight’s voice was heard.
The two sister’s looked to Midnight to see him inspecting a new pair of wings he had. “Midnight Star?” Luna addressed.
“Oh, I…guess I forgot about the wings thing. Part of the package I take it?” He asked.
“Yes, you are now an immortal alicorn like myself and Luna.” Celestia answered.
“Well….this is going to take some getting used to.” Midnight stated. “Just wait till dad sees me like this. Um….I’m not going to have to learn to fly am I?” He asked.
Luna couldn’t help but let out a giggle. “Don’t worry Midnight, I’ll help you learn and be with you every step of the way.”
“Great.” Midnight responded with a strained smile.