For what felt like an eternity, nopony said a word. It could've been a minute; it could've been an hour. Twilight waited until her body wasn't choking itself before answering Celestia's question. "Y- yes, I know about it...." she stuttered nervously until her composure was regained, "All ponies fall into a deep 'slumber' until they awake again: reborn. The only ones that have an idea of how it happens are you and your sister. Does that... does that mean that you both are the ones that do it?"
Celestia finally looked away from the wall to look at Twilight. "In a way... but my sister and I are not the only ones," she informed and then strongly nodded in Twilight's direction, which caused the smaller alicorn to look frightened. Spike wasn't doing so good himself; he was clinging tightly to one of Twilight's hind legs with all the terror trapped in his little head. "You see..." Celestia continued, "what the event stands for is to clear Equestria of all evil and allow the land to be reestablished one day. Do you know why we have called you here only now?" Twilight shook her head. "It's because Tirek only recently regained his powers, and that is the very thing we were waiting for. He's the very manifestation of evil. What his return prophesied was something horrible: the End of Days committed by all remaining evils in Equestria. If this happens, all good in the land will vanish without leaving a trace, and there will be no chance of redemption. So what we have tasked ourselves with is ending it ourselves in a more... favorable way. The spell will cast away all life, and whoever inhabits this land next will be tasked with the choice of stripping us of our genetics and giving us a second chance or..." Celestia stopped for a moment to again look away. Her eyes wandered to the floor this time. "...Or leave us cast off," she said, looking back up, "Whichever they decide, a chance of living is better than none."
For the first time in a very, VERY long while, Twilight looked genuinely frightened... as if she'd been told the scariest ghost story magnified by a thousand of the same magnitude. A bit of color drained from her face, and she became light-headed. Luna glanced over and feared Twilight would faint on the spot, so she continued off of what Celestia said. "We understand fully if this is above you, Twilight... and we won't force you to do this. If you aren't capable of carrying out this task, we will find somepony who may be better suited."
"Also know that you will not disappoint us if you should choose not to-"
"I'll do it," Twilight quickly interrupted.
Celestia was immediately taken aback by the subtle reply. "Are you sure, Twilight? It's the biggest responsibility princesses are able to carry out. Can you be positive that you will be capable of sacrificing what you have in order to ensure a better tomorrow?"
"...Yes, Celestia. I understand what will come of this, and I will help in whatever way you need me to. Spike? Will you help me?"
"Of course, Twilight," the dragon replied in a meek voice.
"Thank you."
Luna and her older sister gave the pair small nods. "Excellent," Celestia responded, "Now we only need to wait for-" There was another knock at the bedroom door. "Yes?"
"It's Shining Armor again, princess. Cadence is here; she says she also received a letter?"
"Allow her entry, please," Luna politely requested. The door swung open slowly, and Shining Armor's wife entered the immaculate space.
"Will that be all, princesses?" Shining bowed his head slightly.
Celestia shook her head. "No. It would actually be best if you joined us for this."
He tilted his head as he entered. "Hm?"
* * *
"O- oh... I see," Shining Armor said, allowing his head to hang low in the process.
"But, Celestia," Cadence started, "there must be another way; we can't just KILL everypony!"
"I deeply apologize, I really do, but the only outcome of not doing this is as I said: destruction."
"And you said my sister-in-law has already agreed to it?"
Celestia nodded. "And Spike too."
"...Well if they're going to go through with it, I am too," the pink alicorn replied, entwining her hoof around Twilight's, "We've got to stick together."
"And if they're doing it," Shining added, grabbing Cadence's other hoof, "I won't be walking away so easily."
Spike joined in by grabbing Twilight's free front leg. The dragon hadn't lived for long, but he owed it to Twilight to help her in all the endeavors she found herself. This was the way things were going to be. He was going to help her however he could.
Princess Celestia and her sister gave the rest of the group a soft, serene smile. The eldest was the first to speak. "Very well. If you are all positive you can stand up to the task, please follow us to the throne room. Otherwise, let your doubts be spoken now."
The room was silent. Celestia and Luna carefully led the four from the bedroom to the long hall marking the throne room. The steps of both dragon and pony alike echoed throughout the castle; it seemed abandoned. Arriving at the middle of the ginormous chamber, the monarchs slowed their steps, stopped, and turned to face those who had followed: a dragon, a sister, a wife, and a husband. The question now was; "Are you all ready?"
The sisters received strong, if somewhat reluctant, nods. They nodded back. Celestia stepped forward, and Luna moved a few feet to her right. It was time. The other four joined in creating a circle.
Luna now gave the directions. "We ask that you, Spike, and you, Shining Armor, wait for our signal to let your magic flow into ours. Twilight? Cadence? We'd like for you two to simply focus on creating the most concentrated blast of magic you can. It will react with the magic of my sister and I in a way that will give the intended effect of putting Equestria to rest. ...Let us begin." Luna's horn, quickly followed by Celestia's, began its illumination. Twilight and Cadence followed in suit.
The light of their magic made the circle brighten up in a yellow-light blue-magenta glow. Soon after, they were shooting the alicorn magic out of their horns. It collected in a small, white sphere that slowly expanded as the spell continued on: a miniature star, if you will. The brightness was hard to see through, but Twilight could just barely make out Celestia giving a reassuring look straight into the soul that could penetrate even the darkest heart. The wings of the alicorns spread out as a result of the strain. "Shining Armor! Spike! NOW!" Celestia cried out.
Without hesitation, the captain of the royal guard shot the same spell into the magic collection. Spike, however, was hesitant as he walked up to it. He'd have to get his act together soon; alicorns may be strong, but they can't release magic forever. His palms began to sweat as he stopped in front of the sphere and took a deep breath. One stream of fire, and it would be over. A tear slid down the cheek of everyone in the room. Soft whispers were spoken.
"I'm sorry, Rarity."
"I'm sorry, Cadence."
"I'm sorry too, Shining."
"We're sorry, Equestria."
"I'm sorry... friends."
The flame erupting from Spike's mouth began to crystallize the magic, and it began to rumble. When his magic breath ceased, he jumped into the waiting hooves of Twilight. Both the royal sisters and the married couple did the same.
"Goodbye," they quietly said.
BOOM