Princess Celestia sat in the throne room waiting impatiently for Twilight and her friends to arrive. This simply could not wait any longer! As she waited, she wondered if she were doing the right thing. Sure, she and Luna trusted Twilight and her friends completely, but sure didn't stop Celestia from worrying.
She shook her head, stood up, and began to pace around the room for the hundredth time today. This odd quirk used to help Celestia calm down when she was younger, and Twilight was quick to catch onto that. Her faithful student would constantly wear out the floors of the palace. If only she had been more careful in teaching Twilight! This was the core of all the white alicorn's worries. So much she couldn't teach in time......
"What's wrong?!?" Shouted a panicked voice. Celestia looked around and spotted her favorite purple unicorn, Twilight Sparkle. "Your letter said it was urgent!"
The princess just nodded sadly as the rest of Twilight's friends streamed in. The only two who weren't out of breath were Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They would to wonderful training the royal guards. This thought disturbed her, but she knew that once word got out it would end in any way but well.
"Ah mean no offense your highness," said the orange pony Applejack, "but what in tarnation was so important that ya had Twilight here nearly drag me halfway across Ponyville and away from my apple-bucking? It's Zap Apple season ya know!"
Before Celestia could explain, Rainbow Dash piped up, "Yeah! Is there another changeling invasion? Oh wait! Is Discord back?"
The princess sighed inwardly, and was reminded once more that this task would be much more difficult than anypony would be able to understand.
"I understand your confusion, but if you will calm down and listen, you may be able to grasp the situation."
She immediately regretted her harsh tone. Rarity looked beyond insulted, Pinkie Pie flinched and her hair drooped, and worst of all, Fluttershy looked about ready to cry. Celestia herself was even shocked that she could cause such emotional pain with a simple sentence. These ponies would need to toughen up, but now was not the time to make them shape up.
"Sorry. That came out a little unkindly," Celestia murmured as Dash stared her down with cautious anger. "If you could leave this room for a moment please everypony, that would be appreciated. I need to talk to Twilight separately to explain the situation."
Twilight watched her friends leave, and nervously turned back to Celestia. The unicorn almost opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but stopped at the sight of her beloved teacher. Tears were streaming relentlessly from the princess's eyes. No longer did Twilight see a strong and regal ruler. Before her eyes was a weak pony who needed comfort. To her, it looked like this tortured pony really just needed a hug.
Twilight walked slowly and quietly over to hug Celestia. For what felt like years, they sat there with tears in their eyes. Celestia soon ran out of tears to cry, and all too soon knew it was time to talk.
"Twilight," Celestia's voice was nothing but a mere croak. "Ahem! Twilight, as you know, everything in the world will come to an end eventually and -- "
Twilight interrupted with a glare. "Spare me the cryptic wording! It will only prolong what you have to say, and I know it will cause both of us more pain than we need!"
A strange satisfied feeling came to rest inside Twilight as she saw the princess flinch. As much as Twilight loved Celestia, she was so sick of the way she spoke!
"As you wish," she continued quietly, and her eyes came to rest coldly on Twilight's. "I'm dying Twilight!"
Now it was the student's turn to flinch. Twilight wasn't sure what to expect, but it sure as hay wasn't this! A sudden flame of pure white-hot anger flared inside of her. This could not be happening! How dare Celestia even say anything like this?! It just wasn't fair!
"NO!"
Celestia found even more tears, and fell hard to the floor. Causing any small amount of pain to anyone tore her up inside. As this was her student, Celestia felt millions of times worse. She lay on the marble floor totally drained of everything. Not even the most powerful being of chaos Discord could get her to move.
Twilight slowly walked over to the weakened form, and lowered down to the floor.
"Don't leave me," was all she could manage to whisper.
The door flew open suddenly. A disapproving Luna stood looking tall and menacing.
"CELESTIA!" She shouted as loud as she could.
Now this caused a reaction. The older sibling had never heard such anger from Luna before. Not even when she was Nightmare Moon! Celestia tried to get up on her shaky hooves but fell to the ground. Luna's expression changed instantly as she ran over to the crumpled mess on the floor.
"Celestia," she whispered, "I'm sorry, but you can not just lie here and leave all those ponies waiting outside. They're beginning to worry!"
Celestia nodded, and Luna walked back out to inform the other ponies that they could come back in.
"What are you going to tell them?" Asked Twilight softly as she clung to Celestia like a foal would her favorite blanket.
The alicorn shook her head in response Twilight's friends walked cautiously back into the throne room. With the help of her student, she managed to pull herself up into a dignified position just in time. Luna had just came back in looking sternly at Celestia.
"Don't worry my dear sister," said Luna, "I shall explain this situation.
The friends just stood patiently as they waited to finally be filled in on the situation. The suspense was obviously getting to them, Fluttershy was trembling, Rarity was subconsciously tapping her hoof, and Pinkie's eyes were zooming around while her eyelid twitched. The other two weren't faring too well either.
"Now, I'm sure this will come as a shock to you," began Luna nervously.
This was not an easy thing to do. Sure, Luna had much experience talking about difficult topics to her psychiatrist, but this was revealing her greatest weakness and secret. It was not something to be taken lightly.
"Celestia and I are not immortal. If our magic were not keeping us healthy, we would surely be on our deathbeds. We have an extremely large responsibility that we are unfairly passing onto you. It is up to you to take over Equestria."
The room was silent as this began to sink in. It stayed that way until Pinkie Pie bravely spoke.
"Does this mean you're leaving us? Forever?"
Luna sadly closed her eyes. She had seen far too much pain over her lifetime, and seeing the element of laughter cry to this degree would drain her like Celestia. Laughter had always been special to her, and was her favorite element of harmony. If she saw pain in the pink pony's eyes, it would most likely kill Luna before her power had the chance to be transferred.
"No," whispered Rarity, "You simply can not do this! I understand you're dying, but isn't there a spell to keep you alive longer. You must not abandon Equestria like this!"
"Rarity!" shouted Applejack angrily as tears streamed from her eyes. "Can't you see they don't have a choice!?"
For once, the two polar opposite ponies sought comfort from the other. After crying and hugging for a few moments, Pinkie and Fluttershy also found their way into the group of sad souls.
A sudden shout startled them out of their mourning. "UGH! I can't take this anymore!"
The rainbow maned pegasus that had been flying over the group suddenly flew faster than ever before to get out of the castle. The walls soon started to shake as a miniature earthquake began.
"Fluttershy!" Shouted Twilight to the calmest of the bunch. "Get everyone under something stable while this quake is going on. I need to go get Rainbow."
Luna was shocked. "I knew you cared for your friends, but to risk dying in such a foolish way!"
"I know, I'll be careful!" Shouted Twi as she ran as fast as her hooves could carry her.
