//------------------------------//
// Feriae Denicales 
// Story: Equestrian Anthology 
// by Shingo 
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Equestria, unlike many countries, is full of magic. While this is obvious seeing as two of its rulers control celestial bodies, that statement runs far deeper than one would expect. Every citizen of the country has magic within them. There is an inert body of magic in each pony, and it manifests itself in different ways for each race. The pegasi have mastery over the sky, the unicorns can manipulate the fabric of reality, and the earth ponies are able to feel the very heartbeat of the planet. The magic runs deeper than that as well. Every plant, every animal, and every living thing within Equestria has magic within them. This magic is tied to life. So long as there is life in Equestria, there will be magic and vice versa. By some quirk of fate, the magic began to fade.

At first the loss of magic went unnoticed by the populous. The first things to lose their magic were the plants. Day by day, plants slowly withered away. Flowers and trees began dying as if preparing for winter. Scientists all around the country ignored it, they believed that Mother Nature was preparing for a cycle of rebirth, they were wrong. The animals soon followed. The smallest creatures were losing their life as the plants were. One by one, they fell into slumber, never to awake again. Birds fell to the earth, fish breached the surface of the water, and all sounds of wild life ceased.

Panic soon set in. A countless number of ponies feared for their lives. Some claimed that the country was dying, others believed it to be the work of a malevolent deity, and a select few believed that this process was to reset the world. Ponies worked as hard as they could to reverse what had been done, but even the most dedicated of ponies could not turn back the hands of time. The magic soon left the populous, only at a slower rate. The earth ponies were the first to feel the loss. Thousands of earth ponies went on with their routine the best they could. However, they felt weak, as if they were physically and mentally exhausted. With a single blink, earth ponies returned to their namesake. One by one they closed their eyes, and one by one they returned to the earth.

A similar fate came for the pegasi. Days had passed since the earth ponies lost their lives. Equestria was in a state of panic and fear. What remained of the pony race was a group of scared individuals. The fear quickened the process. Much like the earth ponies, the pegasi closed their eyes, never to open them again.

In the capital city of Canterlot, only a handful of living ponies remained. With two thirds of the pony race gone, many gave into despair. They took their lives believing that death was inevitable. Within the castle walls two alicorns, one a midnight blue and one a sparkling white, watched their soon to be lifeless country. Tears were freely flowing from their eyes.

“Your highnesses,” a voice said behind them. They turned to see a white blue maned unicorn stallion. He dragged his body towards the pair, stumbling every other step.

“Captain Armour,” the blue alicorn rushed to his side. “You should not be here. You should stand by your family’s side, not ours.” A chuckle came from the stallion.

“I wouldn’t be a good soldier if I abandoned my post,” he said. “There’s something I have to get off my chest first.” He backed away from the pony supporting him and stood tall.

“Throughout the years that I have been a guard, I have worked tirelessly. I have followed every order, every command, and every proclamation. And it has been my honour to do so,” he said. His head lowered to the floor in a bow. “It has been an honour to serve you princesses.” His eyes began to close and darkness began closing in. He could feel his body becoming weaker.

“It has been an honour to have you, captain,” said the white alicorn. Before darkness claimed his sight, he saw both alicorns returning his bow. A smile formed on his face as everything faded away.