Two Alicorns stood side by side, their horns alight. One of the two was a bright, regal and warm stallion who stood tall and proud as he aimed his horn at the setting sun. The second Alicorn was dark, reclusive and most would say she was a mare of mystery. She channeled her magic towards the rising moon. Together they ruled over Equestria both day and night. However. both of them knew they didn't have long. Alicorns were long lived but they still can't last forever. They knew this would be the last time they performed the feat of bringing the night and they made it spectacular. Every constellation was in plain sight and the moon was bright and full.
"How long do we have, Selene?" The darker Alicorn's horn glowed a vibrant turquoise instead of her usual indigo for a moment and then she spoke.
"Tis only a few hours now." Helios, the taller Alicorn that radiated the warmth of the sun frowned at this news.
"Very well. Go to the Royal Guard and tell them to gather everypony in Everfree to the town square."
"Yes, Helios." Selene spread her wings and took off towards the tall building that housed ponies who served in the Royal Guard, as Selene flew off Helios turned and walked into the castle.
"Citizens of Everfree, we are sorry to summon you during the middle of the night but we have grave news for you all." Helios wasn't too pleased that he had only but an hour left but that was the way it had worked with his parents Galaxia and Cosmos therefore he and his beloved shall go down the same.
The two rulers of Equestria stepped aside to reveal two more Alicorns. One of them had a pure white coat and a pink mane that floated like a cloud made of cotton candy. There was a younger Alicorn whose coat was a deep navy blue with a short, lighter blue mane.
"This is Celestia and Luna, they are our daughters. You and all the other ponies see me and my partner as immortal beings but I'm sorry to say that we all have to move on, even Alicorns. Four months ago, our eldest daughter reached maturity which means it is her's and her sister's time to rule." Celestia was listening intently to her mother's words while Luna was occupied with a paper airplane. Helios moved next to Selene again, hiding the princesses.
"Questions anypony?" Many hooves shot up in unison, desperate to be answered. "Spectrum Flare?"
"Queen Selene, King Helios, how long will you be with us?"
"We have spoken with Gaia and she has told us we have one hour remaining." This brought up many rumours and even more hooves we thrust into the night sky. "Diamond Belle?"
"Your Majesties, what if the Princesses are not ready?"
"They have been training for decades and have began many nights and days, therefore we have complete faith in them." Hooves were lowered as the crowd noticed the regal and elegant pair start to change before their eyes. They looked at each other in panic. "We must leave you, dear subjects but have faith in our daughters, they will guide you through many generations!" Both Alicorns lit their horns and in seconds, they were gone and so were the younger pair.
When the group re-appeared they were at the entrance to the center of Everfree, a forest with a strange star in the middle that gave off a cold chill when you got near it. The star was violet but it glowed silver in the moonlight. The younger two looked toward their parents for comfort but didn't see what they expected.
"Mother, father?! What's happening to you?!" Selene and Helios no longer had manes that looked like their time of the day or coats that radiated warmth and cold, instead they could probably pass for an ordinary pony if it wasn't for their cutie marks and the facts that they had a horn and wings. Helios' coat was maize and his mane was ruby, they didn't give off the same glow that they used to. Selene was egyptian blue and her sapphire mane was tied back in a basic ponytail.
"Helios, look at them! Our little fillies are all grown up." Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. Then they stared. Then they screamed.
"Girls, calm down!" The now godlike pair stopped screaming and blushed in embarrassment.
"Celly, Lulu, we have complete faith that between the both of you, Equestria will be ruled successfully. Your father and I don't have little time left before we must leave. We just wanted to give you a little something before we go." Selene's horn glowed and two boxes appeared before them. The first box was red with intricate gold designs and the second was silver but there were no patterns. Celestia and Luna picked up a box each and opened them. Both of them gasped as they saw the contents. Inside each box was a set of regalia that matched their domain.
"We have to go now, but remember this. Ruling Equestria is a two pony job, you must support each other through your years." With that, Selene and Helios turned and walked into the forest, leaving the royal sisters alone.
"I don't want them to leave, Tia!" Luna leaped into Celestia's arms, sobbing quietly into her fur. As she tried to soothe her younger sister a solitary tear ran down her face onto her matted white coat. They stayed there for a while as Luna cried herself to sleep.
"Nopony does, sister."