*outside of the range of Canterlot Castle, Twilight, Spike, Dusk and Barbra are flying at a rapid pace*
Twilight/Dusk: [panting in worry as they reach Canterlot]
*they meet the Mane 5 and Colt 5 at the gate and all rush in*
*as they're running/flying*
Fluttershy: *relieved* Oh, good. We're all here.
Twilight: *concerned* So everypony got an urgent summons to the castle with no explanation?
Pinkie: *smiles* Yup! I just love a good mysterious summons.
Bubble- *smiles* What's it about? Do you think it's a surprise party? Hey! Why are we running?
Dusk: *worried* Because something could be terribly wrong! Somepony turned bad, another evil creature back for revenge?
Applejack/AJ: *arches eyebrows* Don't you think you're bein' a little paranoid?
Dusk- *looks at them with an unamused glance* After everything we've been through, do you really want me to answer that?
AJ- *admits* Good point.
Twilight: *looks at them* Why else would the Royals send scrolls in such a hurry?
Rarity: *admits* Good point! They know better than to make us worry!
Elusive- *nods in concern*
Pinkie: Plus, I like it when you run so fast, the walls get all blurry!
Bubble- *seeing blurry walls* Wheeee!
Rainbow/Blitz: Race ya! *takes off ahead*
[Pinkie and Bubble are rolling there]
[door opens as they all rush in the throne room to see The Royal Siblings, Kibitz, and Raven at their sides]
Rarity/Elusive: [panting]
Spike/Barbra: [yelps as Pinkie and Bubble crash into them]
Celestia/Solaris: *calmly* Boys. Girls. Thank you so much for coming.
Twilight: *worried* What's wrong?
Dusk: *worried* What can we do?
Luna: *smiles* That's just it. Nothing's wrong!
Artemis- *smiles* Everything's perfect!
*Celestia and Solaris nods*
Applejack: *concerned* Did y'all call us down here just to tell us that?
Rarity: *to them* With all due respect, majesties, you might want to save your urgent summons for matters that are a bit more... well, urgent!
Elusive- *nods in concern*
Royals: [giggling calmly]
Artemis: *admits* Well, there is more to it. Equestria is enjoying its longest period of harmony in recent years.
Kibitz/Raven-*glances at each other*
Dusk- *scrunches his face in concern* (If you say so...)
Solaris: *calmly* And it's all thanks to you two, Twilight and Dusk. And your friends of course.
Spike/Barbra: *smirks* Who, us?
Rarity/Elusive: *smirks* Oh, pshaw.
Rainbow/Blitz: *smirks* It's about time you noticed!
Twilight/Dusk: *honored* *bows* Thank you!
Luna: *calmly* Because of your efforts, there has been less and less for us to do.
Celestia: *nods* So, after much consideration, my sister, brothers and I have decided it is time for us... *proudly* to retire!
Mane Six, Colt 6, Spike, Barbra, Kibitz, and Raven: [gasp in shock]
Discord/Eris: *pops in with reporter gear on* *excited* Breaking news! The royal princes and princesses retiring! We have so many questions!
Discord- *next to Celestia* Who'll take over? Who'll run Equestria?
Eris- *next to Solaris* Will it be someone tall, dark and handsome and beautiful? Or will it be the Lord and Lady of Chaos?
[they point fingers at each other while batting eyelashes at Celestia and Solaris]
Royals- *smirks at each other and looks at Discord and Eris while pointing to Twilight and Dusk*
*the Mane 5, Spike, Barbra, and Colt 5 look in shock*
Twilight/Dusk- *with their eyes shrunken and ears flat*...
Discord/Eris: *sighs in annoyance* Oh, fine. Go with the obvious choice.
Twilight/Dusk: [panicked noises] *to the Royals* You're retiring?!
Spike/Barbra: *confused* Princesses and Princes can retire?
Celestia: [chuckles] Of course we can.
Luna:*admits* I for one am looking forward to a little R&R, maybe a trip to Silver Shoals.
Artemis- *nods in agreement*
Dusk: *worried* And you want us to take your place?
Royals: *nods* Mm-hm!
Artemis: *smiles* With the help of your friends, of course!
Celestia: *sincerely flies down* We can't think of anypony more worthy than you two. Over the years we've watched you grow, you've faced task after task...
Luna/Artemis: *calmly flies down* ...challenge after challenge...
Discord/Eris: *fly by* *annoyed* Countless adversities, yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it...
Solaris: *sincerely* And you two have always prevailed.
Dusk: *concerned* Thank you but that doesn't mean that we're ready to do what you do!
Kibitz- *worried* Your majesties, if I may-
Celestia: *calmly to Twilight and Dusk* Oh, of course you are. We realize this is a lot to take in, but--
Rainbow Dash: *comes in front of them* Nope! Makes perfect sense. We're awesome!
Blitz- [gasps happily] Does this mean we get all your powers?!
Both- *excited* Ooh ooh, we call dibs on showing up in everypony's dreams!
*Dusk pulls them back with magic and lightly glares at them*
Twilight: *concerned* You can't be ready to step into their horseshoes just like that!
Applejack: *admits* Well, if the royals think it's time to retire, we're not a bad choice.
AJ- *nods* We always have Equestria's best interests at heart.
Raven- *sighs* With all due respect-
Twilight: *admits* That's a fair point... *takes out paper and a quill* which should be taken into consideration when we have a round table discussion--
Dusk- *looks down in concern*
Rarity/Elusive: Well we're in! Darlings, we'll all need a complete wardrobe update, and *looks at Twilight and Dusk* we would love to pick your brains about mane maintenance when you two have a moment.
Fluttershy: *smiles* As long as we all have each other, I'm sure we can do it!
Butterscotch- *nods in agreement*
Dusk- *concerned* Guys-
Pinkie/Bubble: *happily* Yay! Protectors of Equestria on three! *puts their hooves in* One... two...
*the others put their hooves/claws in with the exception of Twilight and Dusk*
Twilight/Dusk- *puts their hoofs in rather reluctantly*
Mane Six, Colt Six, Barbra and Spike: *enthusiastic* Protectors of Equestria!
Twilight: *thinks* *slowly relieved* It'll be a bit of an adjustment, but I imagine the transfer of power will be a lengthy process which will--
Celestia/Solaris: *admits* Actually we just need a few days to put together a little ceremony.
Luna/Artemis- *nods in agreement*
Discord/Eris- *shocked*
Kibitz/Raven- *worried unison* WHAT?!
Twilight/Dusk: [worried] A few days?!
Rest of Mane Six and Colt Six: [groans]
Twilight: *worried* But that's so soon! Shouldn't there be some sort of training program, that last weeks, no, months, if not years?!
Celestia/Solaris: *sincerely* Everything you've gone through over the years has been a training program.
Kibitz- *worried* Your majesties, your talking about not only shifting power but this would be the first shift in power in a millennia.
Raven- *worried* And you two want Princess Twilight and Prince Dusk's coronation within a few days, that's not enough time to prepare-
Blitz- *scoffs* Please, it only takes a few days to put up decorations for a ceremony.
Kibitz/Raven/Twilight/Dusk- *in unison* That's not the issue.
Discord: *next to her* As far as training guide I have it right here. 'How to Rule Equestria', by Nopony Made Pretendsmith.
[book closes]
[the Royals look unamused then regain their composure]
Luna: *levitates the Friendship Journal* The friendship journal you wrote yourselves is a better guide than any we could provide.
Dusk- *concerned* That doesn't-
Celestia/Solaris: *calmly* We have the utmost confidence in you two.
Twilight- *worried* But-
Luna/Artemis: *calmly* And we hope you have the same in yourselves.
*Raven and Kibitz look at each other in concern*
Twilight/Dusk: *sighs*
Eris- *looks at Twilight and Dusk in concern*
Discord: *smirks* Oh, we're absolutely certain they do.