//------------------------------//
// The worry 
// Story: The return of Nightmare Twilight 
// by Sombra63 
//------------------------------//

After twenty minutes of walking Sunlight, Phila, and a cello case dragging Octavia at last reach their destination. The library was, indeed, unusual.  A giant oak tree with circular windows flickering with soft candle light, and a balcony obviously meant for stargazing.
“And that’s my entire life story and everything I know about dragons.’
“Everything?”
“Well, I do have some theories, wanna hear them?”
“Absolutely!”
But this was not to be as Sunlight turned to the mare, her patience long since demolished by Phila’s monologue.
“Oh I’m sure Phila would just love to tell you all her intriguing theories, but we really need to get working.  We have a lot to research after all.” 
“Well then, I could--“
But Sunlight wasn’t going to have it, bucking Phila off her back in the most casual way she could.
“I would love that, but as you can see Phila is so excited about the study session I have planned that she can’t even stay on my back. Besides, you would get so bored and I’d hate for that to happen.
She smiled the awkwardest smile she had ever smiled and stepped slowly backwards.
“But I--“
*SLAM*
But her words were cut off as Sunlight made her escape.

“ Phew that was--“
*Bonk*
After escaping the seemingly dragon obsessed cello mare, Sunlight thought she had, at last, found sanctuary in the library when she walked nose first into the back of a chalk board.
Why was there a chalk board in a library?
“Oh, my goodness!  Are you okay!”
From across the library the same maroon mare that had disappeared earlier that day held out a helping hoof which Sunlight gladly took.
“I’m fine, I’m fine honestly, my nose is just a little sore, but, why is there a chalk board here in the first place?”
The mare smiled broadly at her question, grabbing a piece of chalk and writing on the board feverishly until Sunlight saw she had written the words “ Ms. Cheerilee” in a swirling white script.
“My name is Ms. Cheerilee.  I’m the local teacher here in Ponyville, but I’m also the librarian. Since you’re new in town and staying at the library, I thought it would be lots of fun to teach you all about Ponyville and its history.”
Both Phila and I cringed. Neither one of us had any good experience with teachers. They were always forcing knowledge down our throats and all I ever wanted to do was learn at my own pace or read a good book. Prince Shining was the only teacher who understood that.
Phila just hated learning in general.
In the blink of an eye I was up the stairs and locked in the spare bedroom before you could say “textbook exit.”


Several hours later and Sunlight lay wide awake. The minutes were ticking away until the Summer Sun Celebration and she still had no idea what the Elements of Harmony were.
Across the room the squeaky door opened and Phila, eyes blood shot and twitching staggered in.
“Sunlight, please just come down stairs. Ms. Cheerilee is boring me to tears!”
“ NO! All the ponies in this town are crazy! And yes, I know it’s the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration and we’re supposed to stay up and see the Prince raise the sun!”
With a pop of her horn, Phila was back down the stairs and the door was slammed shut.
“Ugh! Here I thought I had time to learn more about the Elements of Harmony, but, silly me.  All these ridiculous ponies trying to be friends has kept me from it!”
Her tirade dies out as her eyes stray to her eye shaped mirror where, like the pupil’s eye, the moon sits cooly. The face of a shadowy mare is ever present.  Her anger is swept away by fear as she looks up at that very face and, in a worry filled tone, repeats the words that had been haunting her thoughts all day.
“Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about ever lasting Twilight.”
Her fear grows ever stronger as she looks at the Mare in the Moon.
“I hope the Prince is right. I hope it really is just an old pony’s tale.”
Her fearful trance is interrupted when Ms. Cheerilee barges into the dark room, her ever present smile just as bright.
“It’s almost time for the sunrise!”


The Ponyville town hall was filled to the brim, as ponies of varying color and species clammered for a position closest to the stage. Fleur’s decorations looked just as beautiful in the moonlight and quite a large group of pegasi hovered close to the hanging tapestries to get a closer look. On several just as lovely decorated tables sat the Apple family’s banquet, with all the treats that Sunlight had gorged all those hours ago. As the last stragglers made their way inside, including Sunlight, Ms. Cheerilee, and Phila, a very familiar yellow stallion simply popped up in front of Sunlight with a smile almost as big as Cheerilee’s.
“Oh gosh ah am so excited, I’ve never bin so excited!”
He probably would have said more if the sound of Octavia’s cello hadn’t cut him off.  It was a simple introductory piece from what Sunlight could remember of the itinerary, then the mare would be giving a small speech to welcome the Prince.
Just as she thought it, a brown mare with a puffy grey mane stepped on stage. Once the spotlight fell on her she began speaking in a formal tone to the excited audience.
“Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”
The mayor paused as the crowd cheered.
“In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year.”
Sunlight turned her head up to the skylight nervously only to see the Mare on the Moon…
“Vanish!”
“And, it is my great honor to introduce to you the Ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and everyday!  The strong, the brave, the bringer of harmony to all Equestria-- Prince Shining!”
With a cue from the mayor Fleur flashed her horn and fireworks popped above the crowd’s head’s as she pulled the curtain to reveal..!
Nothing.