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Princess Celestia is sitting in her throne. The other throne, barely occupied by the sister she had loved, for so long no pony remembers. Not that there are many ponies who could remember. Not now, not at this time.
Since Princess Luna barely is a shadow of her former self, and the night sky bleak; she is not much of company, when Celestia is needing it the most.
To say that Princess Ceslestia is in any better shape, is such a blatant lie. She had known what is wrong, connecting her age to that of the Sun as she accepted her place in life. Her age is that of the star she dedicated her life to, in order to serve the ponies of what was once known as Equestria. Equestria such as she knew it, is no more. There are no ponies, and thus the nation is no more. Not that there is much life outside the once grand castle of Canterlot.
No pony had bothered looking out of the grand windows for ages. There is nothing to see, beyond the bleak view of death and decay. No pony roaming the streets.
The throne room as the final bastion; since the Royal chambers had been abandoned, so many years ago. The old bed no longer comfortable or comforting. Is one still a Princess, when all her subjects are dead and gone? Was she right; in performing the last few burials by herself, with Luna as the only witness? There had been no other pony to perform the burial, and Celestia felt them deserving of the final service. As the Princess, the duty had fallen upon her. A duty, most heavy and grating.
There are no servants, waiting for her to command. There are no ponies to dream, thus no nightmares to ward off; other than thus of Princes Celestia and Luna. There is only one remaining nightmare, and it is connected to the end expected. The end can only be staved of, for so long.
“Are you there, dear sister?” Celestia inquires, with a measure of anxiety and worry to her voice.
Even when Princess Luna had been banished to the moon, there had been no doubt as to the state of her health and general well-being. Now, on the other hoof, that status is very much in doubt; which is tearing on the mental well-being of Celestia.
“Yes, dear sister; I do believe, I am still with you for a while longer!” she responds.
“Thank you, Sister!” Celestia replies, while her unease is barely diminished in the least.
“While I had the idea; that being the only Princess, was desirable. Being the only Pony; certainly is not, not now as there are none to talk to, or listen to her gentle sounds of snoring!” Luna points out.
“Just as I am your only subject and pony for company, you are my only subject and pony for company!” Celestia mumbles.
“If this is our last moment together, let us do something truly foolish together; just to chance it, to see if there can be one last spark of joy before the end?” Luna suggests, barely stifling the yawn of boredom from her voice.
“So long, as it does not leave one of us alone; what do I, or we have left to lose?” Celestia responds.
“That captures my sentiment, only too perfectly!” Luna responds.
“What did you have in mind?” Celestia inquires.
“Let it be done, let us summon her together; this once, one last time!” the sisters pronounce, together in perfect harmony.
Their voices, strengthened by the company of another; one shared voice, in common interest. One final call, for the one who had been known for defying reality, the one who was known to call forth the joy required to save the day.
A small light orb of magic forming, at the tip of the horn of each remaining Alicorn. Light growing brighter, as the orb is expanding to the point where it moves down, like an avalanche, along the entire length of the horn. As the avalanche reaches the bottom of its mountain, the light expands to the point where it dims and flicker. Everything is uncertain, cast in doubt. Even the blinding light, from the magic of two Alicorns, working in unison.
What is to come, and if anything is to come out of it; not even Discord could have said. While he faced his final hour with grace, in the embrace of the one he had come to like and love beyond his reason.
The world was diminished, by his absence, just as it had to suffer the loss of Kindness herself. Kindness and Chaos united in the end, united to the bitter end.
Magic had perished, not too long after.
Laughter persisted, laughter is persisting still. Refusing to give up, or die. Even in the worst of diversity. What kind of Laughter, is to be summoned; remains to be seen, considering the circumstances as dire as these.
Celestia puts on a brave face for her sister, mirrored by the sister; this is far worse than even King Sombra and Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings. Against time, there is no winning.
Of course, laughter could be heard, when you are on your way to the gallows. There is no challenging that laughter. Laughter is the Alpha and the Omega. Laughter, is the one who could persist, even when the house of cards had already collapsed.
In this house of cards, two cards had not yet fallen, even if they are crumbling and about to fall.
In this one final act of defiance, the sisters are expending all the magic at their disposal, all the magic in the entire castle and the city of Canterlot itself. Just for the effort of reaching out, to the one who defies even defiance itself, ignoring improbability and impossibilities on end,
The light flickers and the room starts growing dark and cold. Two lone figures, leaning back for the support their thrones are willing to offer. One large room, now turned into a very small world. The world of the end-game.
“Was that all?” echoes the voice of a once merry chaotic spirit named Discord; “Was that all?” the voice echoes over and over in the room.
The echo is not diminishing; because the room is tuned in and moves closer, to where the voice once came from. The chaos and despair mounting.
Party 'til you Drop, or to the End
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The lights go out, leaving only the light filtered in to illuminate the large room. The light, emanating from a dying sun.
Stark shadows are dancing in the room, for minutes on end, as the light is diminishing even further.
There is a large explosion, in the middle of the room; something enters from within the realm, but not quite the realm of probability or what is posible.
There is a dim hum and the light is spread evenly; thus banishing the shadows dancing, to the past.
No music is heard. The room is still and quiet for several more minutes. The Princesses finally extend their heads towards the center of the room, where the explosion had originated.
“Do you know what this calls for? A party!” the pink mare exclaims.
All of a sudden, the room is flooded with bright, juvenated light.
The light is but a short reprieve, but it is still spreading light and lightening the mood of the few Ponies gathered.
Two Princesses step down from their respective throne and trots down the steps of the united dais, approaching the long lost friend.
“I have not felt this young, or hopeful; in a millennium!” Celestia mumbles, and Luna nods.
“Then it is time, to get this party going!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.
“Can as well have some fun, while it lasts!” Luna responds.
The next instant, the pink party pony known as Pinkie Pie had found herself by the pond. There is a pond, behind the thrones. The ancient line is heard once more, as Pinkie is summoning up her long lost clones.
“I solemnly swear, not to be scared of the one ..” she pronounces.
Once she had performed the enchantment, one pink mare steps out of the pond; just as she had done so many years ago. The mare, a long lost friend, now siding with her old self.
“You want me to perform this enchantment for you?” the clone inquires.
“Yes, please! I need enough clones to liven up this party!” Pinkie Pie explains.
Trying to summon up the spirit of the party. The once exuberant pink mare, now little more than a shadow of her former self. The knowledge of how many friends she lost. Friends who can never more smile for her.
“I have not felt this young, or hopeful; in a millennium!” Celestia mumbles, and Luna nods.
“Then it is time, to get this party going!” Pinkie Pie exclaims.
“Can as well have some fun, while it lasts!” Luna responds.
The next instant, the pink party pony known as Pinkie Pie had found herself by the pond. There is a pond, behind the thrones. The ancient line is heard once more, as Pinkie is summoning up her long lost clones.
“I solemnly swear, not to be scared of the one ..” she pronounces.
Once she had performed the chant, one pink mare steps out of the pond; just as she had done so many years ago. The mare, a long lost friend, now siding with her old self.
“You want me to perform this enchantment for you?” the clone inquires.
“Yes, please! I need enough clones to liven up this party!” Pinkie Pie explains.
Trying to summon up the spirit of the party. The once exuberant pink mare, now little more than a shadow of her former self. The knowledge of how many friends she lost. Friends who can never more smile for her.
“I have two friends left, two Princesses who still needs me!” she reminds herself.
Pinkie Pie returns, to her two remaining friends; intent on making the day the best party time of their lives. Not an easy task, considering their long lifespan, not to mention her own past achievements. The Clone is performing its task, of summoning up enough clothes to make this a party. In doing so, they are expending the energy and magic; keeping this world afloat. It is a forlorn task, to prepare and throw a party in this gloomy a time. Yet, it is still worthwhile.
“They need some fun and a grin!” Pinkie Pie exclaims, on her way back to the friends.
“Yes, they certainly do deserve one last moment of joy! Even if it is at the expense of precious time they have left!” a clone echoes in her ear.
“I know, but it is better to go down with dignity; than to just fade away, like they otherwise would have!” Pinkie Pie points out.
“Then, by all means; this will be a party they can’t miss!” the clone echoes in response.
“I will go to the Princesses, entertain them and see to that they can enjoy what little I can give!” Pinkie points out, with a halfhearted grin on her face; “Not even my clones can put up the effort for a precious grin!” she then ponders on her way to the Princesses.
She bounced forth, towards Celestia and Luna in the best party impression she could muster. Thankfully, the Princesses could not recognize the lacking enthusiasm; enjoying the effort put forth for their benefit.
“Thank you, Pinkie Pie!” Celestia exclaims.
The realm is more lively and exuberant than I have felt it, for almost a millennium!” Luna continues.
Almost a millennium, was that when the last pony had been buried? No pony knows, and no pony has the energy to care.
While the small room is slowly growing slightly brighter, the rest of the world grows stiller. The sun is slowly losing the last of its energy and starts to grow cold.
As Pinkie Pie reaches the two mares in the room, she stops and pulls a blue balloon from her flank. She slowly inhale and blow up the balloon, before she ties it up and extend the hoof towards Celestia.
“A balloon, to lift your dark and heavy Spirit!” she offers, as she is placing her bravest smile onto her face.
“Thank you!” Celestia responds, permitting herself be infected by the offer and the smile.
Pinkie Pie rips off another blue balloon from her flank; inhaling and blows up the balloon in a single fluid motion. She ties it up, and extend it in a gift to Luna.
“Thank you!” Luna responds, as she is accepting the gift.
Without realizing it, or understanding how; the balloon actually is lifting the spirit.
Momentarily, Celestia and Luna are frightened; by the reaction upon the small gift of friendship.
“Never in a million years..” Celestia exclaims, in reaction.
Luna nods and makes an effort to calm herself down.