“Now that is one subject I do not think we have,” I said to the mint green Unicorn. Seeing her expression drop, I looked at the shelves and grabbed a book in my magic. “This book has information on Chimeras, which are creatures that are hybrids of other existing creatures. The Chimeras we usually think of are either the snake, lion and goat combination or the snake, tiger and goat combination, but the name applies to everything from griffins to cockatrices to manticores. Some creatures like Minotaurs and Centaurs are types of Chimeras that are part human, so the creatures must exist. I mean who would make up a creature only to combine it with another?”
“Thank you!” she exclaimed, taking the book up in her own magic. I had to wonder where she heard about Humans. Secrets like that should not have made it out of the castle. I watched her sign the name ‘Lyra Heartstrings’.
Checking a book out is simple, though you have to have an account with the library you want the book from to do it. Basically I have a book behind the counter that says who checked out what book. If you bring it back on time I cross your name off, if it’s overdue you get a red mark. I have a second book with addresses of everypony with an account, so I can go get the book when it’s a lot overdue.
Unfortunately, a lot of ponies do not take kindly to having somepony try to tell them it is overdue. Luckily, I will not be dealing with this much longer. I am only here because Sky Script, a librarian for many years, finally retired and moved back to Cloudsdale. My work is this kind of stuff, filling in for missing positions until they can be filled, or helping out shops at busier seasons when the worker they would hire would be dropped after a few months. Tomorrow is supposed to be my last official day as Ponyville’s librarian, but I will probably spend the next couple days to show them how the system works.
As Lyra left, I levitated down another book. ‘The History of Equestria’ was its title. I flipped to the first chapter; the story of Hearth’s Warming Eve. Its story was vague, and left out many details. If somepony were to question it, they would get no answer to how Celestia became ruler of the land instead of the tribes’ leaders. Really it said nothing about Celestia’s life.
“Why would this one be any different?” I murmered. “They only tell of Celestia’s reign. Everything that truly happened was left for storybooks.”
I levitated the book back on the shelf blowing a chunk of my red-orange mane out of my eyes in the process. I should get it cut soon. Then again I usually procrastinate to the point where I just grab a pair of scissors myself.
I heard a loud noise outside, but I paid it no mind. Though I could not shake the feeling that washed over me. I felt it in my heart, a warm tingle making its way to my hooves and the tips of my wings. I closed my eyes, and it was like looking into another world. I could see a lot of colors I recognized as ponies. Outside the door were a blue-colored one next to a light pink one with a light blue and a chocolate brown in its center. The blue-colored energy bounced through my door. Coming back to reality, that energy was a pink pony pulling a wagon full of decorations.
“Hiya, Feria!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, tossing a purple streamer around my neck. “Guess what? There’s a new pony in town! I saw her and I was like ‘GASP!’, then I ran off to get my welcome wagon, but she was gone by the time I got back! Then I realized she must be the new librarian, so I asked the mayor and she said the new librarian is arriving today straight from Canterlot! She said she’ll be staying in the upper level apartment, so I figured ‘Instead of trying to track her down, why not set up a huge welcome party here where she’ll come home to it?’ so I grabbed even more supplies and ran out the invitations and-“
“I get the idea,” I laughed. Before I met Pinkie, I did not think there would be a pony who spoke entirely in exclamation points. “At least give me time to prepare. I might not be the librarian, but if somepony got frosting on the books I know quite a few who would rain their wrath down upon us.”
With a quick jump I flew to the rafters. Sky Script had kept tarps up here for when something like this happened. Though I can add an invisibility spell to them, so we can still see the books. By the time I came back down Pinkie was already setting up the tables and balloons. She was waiting for me to finish my setup before bringing out the Party Canon.
“You know, I just thought of something!” she said. “You used to live in Canterlot! Any chance you know her?”
“Maybe,” I replied, beginning my work. “I was mostly around nobles and such who probably would not give it up for a job in some small town, but I know a few students from the school for gifted Unicorns that would. What did she look like? As much detail as you can, please.”
“She’s a Unicorn!” she answered. “She was about our age and really pretty! I mean, she wasn’t like Rarity; simple, no makeup or fancy hairstyles, but still pretty. Her coat was lavender and her mane was a really dark indigo!” I heard a crash from behind me.
“It’s alright! I got it!” she shouted as another crash sounded. “As I was saying, her mane also had a pink stripe and a purple stripe. I didn’t see her Cutie Mark well, but it was pink. And she had an adorable little purple and green dragon with her! That has to stand out, right?”
“That must be Twilight Sparkle,” I said. “The dragon is named Spike.”
Pinkie went on to talk about how great of a name that was, but I had to think this through. Twilight was Celestia’s private student. Why would she be sent here? I knew my sister well, she had another plan for this. Twilight probably doesn’t know the plan either.
“And of course the Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow!” Pinkie was still talking. “This party will probably run into that one, so we can just head over to Town Hall later on. This is the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration and it’s in Ponyville!”
Pinkie had been planning this party for a while now. The Summer Sun Celebration involved everypony staying up the night before, and she always makes it a party to keep everypony awake. Of course, this is the first time the Celebration has been in Ponyville during our lifetime, but everypony celebrates no matter where Celestia is.
The reason for the Celebration was part legend, the Legend of Nightmare Moon. If you read the books, they will tell you how Nightmare Moon tried to make an Eternal Night before she was defeated by Celestia. We stay up the night before to symbolize that Eternal Night, and Celestia’s sun rising in the morning is for her victory. I have seen her on those nights before the Celebration, and I knew there was more to this story, a fact that is glanced over in the books.
“Wait,” I said realizing something. “Did you say this was the thousandth year?”
I looked through the shelves for a book. Of course it was under ‘E’. I had not read this passage in years. On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about Nighttime Eternal. I knew that most of this story is truth, Tia had told me its true story, but was this part also true? I could never get an answer from Celestia about this, though when I was young I liked to imagine.
As more ponies showed up to help with the setup, I had to put the book down. Pinkie kept glancing at me with a worried look, and I wanted to reassure her, even if I could not find the words. The more thought about that passage, the more I remember how jumpy Celestia had been these last few months.
As the setup went on, I became more and more sure that the legend was true. No matter the outcome, tonight will be the last time Celestia controls the Moon. But will tomorrow’s Sun ever come?
* * *
“She’s coming! She’s coming!” Pinkie squeaked, dragging me through a group of ponies toward the window. I still have no idea how she could fit so many ponies in a library. She had been right; the pony I recognized as Twilight Sparkle was coming up to the library. Spike was riding on her back talking to Fluttershy who followed behind them.
Pinkie switched off the lights, shouting at us all to be quiet. I watched Twilight awkwardly try saying goodbye to Fluttershy. She was having a whispered conversation with Spike as she walked through the door. I caught a few words: ‘Nightmare Moon’, ‘running out of time’, and ‘make friends’.
“Now where’s the light?” Twilight asked into the darkness.
“Surprise!” Everypony yelled out as Pinkie threw the switch. Twilight stood there in complete shock. I forgot how funny her facial expressions could be, especially when surprised.
“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie said, bouncing up to her. “I threw this party for you! Were you surprised? Were you? Were you? Huh huh huh?”
“Yes, very surprised,” Twilight replied. “Libraries are supposed to be quiet!”
“Well that’s silly!” Pinkie laughed. Ignoring Twilight’s irritation, she followed her through the crowd. “What kind of welcome party would it be if it were quiet? I mean, Hello? Boring! I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all ‘hello’ and I was all “GASP!”, remember? Y’see, I’ve never seen you before and if I’ve never saw you before that means you’re new, ‘cause I know everpony in Ponyville”
Twilight groaned as we reached the snack table. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy were there, already conversing. She sighed and poured herself a drink.
“And if you’re new that meant that you haven’t met anyone yet!” Pinkie kept going. “And if you haven’t met anyone yet, you must not have friends, and if you don’t havefriends, then you must be lonely, and that made me very sad, then I had an idea, and that’s why I went ‘GASP!’! I should throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville and have it run into the other party tonight! See? And now you have lots of friends!”
“Are you alright, sugarcube?” Applejack asked Twilight, stopping Pinkie from going on.
Twilight was looking a bit odd, her face becoming red and her eyes beginning to water. After a moment she let out a high-pitched scream. Her magic reacted to her surprise and turned her mane into flames. She ran off as Spike looked to see what she drank.
“Hot sauce?” he asked. Pinkie reached over and tipped the sauce onto a cupcake.
“What? It’s good!” she exclaimed, mouth full.
I rolled my eyes and followed Twilight to the librarian’s apartment upstairs. It was a small area, with a bedroom and a kitchen, a small space for entertaining As I entered I saw her looking at the books Sky Script had left from his personal collection.
“Elements of Harmony… Elements… Why is there nothing here?” she let out an exasperated sigh.
“That is because you are not looking in the right place,” I answered, startling her for the second time tonight. She stumbled as she turned, but recovered enough to recognize me.
“Feria?” she asked, eyes widening. “I haven’t seen you in years. What are you doing here?”
“I have lived in this town for a few years now,” I laughed. “It is quite different from Canterlot and the castle, ponies seem to care more about each other here. Sorry for not seeing you as often, but I only get up to Canterlot for holidays, and you are usually with your family at the time. By the way, all books with even a mention of the Elements of Harmony are downstairs.”
“Great,” she grumbled.
“So why are you here tonight?” I wondered, walking closer to her.
“Princess Celestia sent me to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration,” she replied. “She also said to ‘make friends’, but that doesn’t matter right now! Equestria might be in danger and I’m the only one who seems to realize it!”
“I assume you told her about this,” I said.
“Of course I did!” she exclaimed. “She sent me here saying ‘it’s just an old pony’s tale’! Even though Nightmare Moon could be returning!”
I held back my surprise. I knew that Celestia knew about Nightmare Moon’s return, she had become more and more nervous all year. If Celestia was hiding this fact from Twilight she really did have some plan in mind. I decided to keep my mouth shut about this, though straight up silence does not work as well.
“Do you know something about this?” she asked.
“I am not sure,” I replied. I could not figure out Celestia’s plan. Thankfully I did not have to give a full answer as Spike walked in.
“Hey, Twilight!” He shouted over the music from downstairs. “Pinkie Pie’s starting pin the tail on the pony! Want to play?”
“No!” she snapped. “All the ponies in this town are crazy! Do you know what time it is?”
“It’s the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration,” he chuckled. “Everypony has to stay up or they’ll miss the princess raise the sun!”
“Technically it would make practical sense to just wake up before dawn,” I said. “But that takes the fun out of it.”
“You look familiar,” he said noticing me for the first time.
“That is alright, you were still fairly young when I saw you last,” I replied. “I am Feria.”
“Oh! Right!” he exclaimed. “Sorry I didn’t-“
“It is fine,” I assured him. “You know, I never cared for pin the tail on the pony. It just sounds too painful.”
“Okay, well I’m going back to play,” he said. “You sure you don’t want to come, Twilight?”
“No!” she shouted.
“You really need to lighten up Twilight. It’s a party!” he walked back out the door.
“You really need to lighten up Twilight. It’s a party!” she mocked.
“You two are more like siblings than I thought,” I giggled as I headed out after him.
* * *
I made my way through the crowds as ponies began walking to Town Hall. Pinkies plan was to get everypony over in small groups, and she was rounding up the last few. Fluttershy was already setting up her music, and Rarity was adding last minute touches to her decoration.
I reached Town Hall about twenty minutes before dawn. Mayor Mare was trying to keep it together, but it was obvious how stressed she was, just the wrong word could make her snap.
“I assume you’d like to talk to your sister before the Celebration?” she asked. “She’s upstairs, third on the right.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
I headed up the stairs to the hall she said she would be in. As I walked forward I could feel something change. I felt cold. I did not want to move forward. Closing my eyes, I could see two colors. One was large and gold, while the other was a silvery blue engulfed in black. I did not know why, but the sight of it took the breath from my lungs. I opened my eyes again and tried to push forward, telling myself that it was nothing.
“It is time for you to have a taste of what you gave me for the past thousand years!” yelled a voice I did not recognize. “You shall now and forever be trapped in the sun, painfully alone, left to contemplate your crimes against me!”
I saw a bright light coming from behind the door Celestia should be in. I tried to open it, pounding my hooves against the door, but a magical force kept it closed. I shouted out to her, but I could not hear my own voice. All I got was a ringing in my ears.
The door finally opened, but the one who stood before me was not Celestia. She was around the same height, her mane a swirl of night, a black coat protected by blue-gray armor. I could not say anything, I could not think. Her eyes felt like they could stare right through me. All I could do was stare back into angry turquoise eyes.
A noise down the hall caught her attention. When she took her gaze off me, I ran. I galloped down the hall afraid she was chasing me. I got myself lost in the crowd. I stopped next to Twilight and tried to catch my breath. Why was it affecting me like this?
“Fillies and Gentlecolts!” Mayor Mare announced. “As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the One Thousandth Summer Sun Celebration! In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!”
Ponies cheered. They had no idea what was coming. Even I did not know what would happen. I was going to ask Celestia what her plan was, but she was no longer reachable.
“And now!” the mayor got our attention again. “It is my great honor to introduce you to the ruler of our land, the amazing pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of peace and Harmony to all, protector of Equestria, Princess Celestia!”
The curtain opened, but Celestia did not appear. Ponies whispered to each other. I saw Rarity walk backstage to look for her. I knew she would find nothing.
“This can’t be good,” Twilight muttered.
“Remain calm, everypony,” Mayor Mare reassured us. “There must be a reasonable explaination for this!”
“Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games!” Pinkie shouted. “Is she hiding?”
“She’s gone!” Rarity exclaimed as she walked back onstage.
There were more gasps and whispers, Pinkie Pie momentarily praised Celestia’s ‘hiding skills’. But a cloud of purple mist appeared where Celestia should be. I watched as the cloud turned into that mare I had seen upstairs, full armor, black coat, and a magical mist-like mane with a matching tail. She still had those eyes, turquoise and dragon-like, able to see straight through you.
“Oh, my sweet, beloved subjects,” she mused. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious, sun-loving faces.”
“What did you do to our princess?!” Rainbow Dash yelled. She attempted to charge at the mare, but was held back by Applejack.
“Why,” the mare chuckled, “am I not royal enough for you? Have you forgotten who I am?”
“Ooh, ooh! More guessing games!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Uh, Hokey Smokes! Or maybe… Queen Meanie? No, Black Snooty! Black Snooty!” she was cut off by somepony.
The mare magicked around us. “Does my crown no longer count now that I have been betrayed, and imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall my legend? Did you not see the signs?”
“I saw!” Twilight shouted. “And I know who you are. You are the Mare in the Moon… Nightmare Moon!” Ponies gasped all around. Shouts were heard before quieting down as Nightmare Moon began to speak again.
“Well well well, somepony who remembers me.” She said to us, a hint of appreciation in her voice.
“I also know who you are, and who you were!” I shouted, shaking as I stepped forward. “You are the Bringer of Night, and one of the rulers. You were and still are part of this world. You can return to it. You will always be able to come back to us!”
Those were the words I felt Celestia would say to her, were she here. She would want to try and reason with her. Our eyes met again, but I stared right back into them. I felt like I could see into her. Those eyes widened in recognition.
“Feria,” she whispered. Her form flickered; her coat dark blue instead of inky black, her voice was softer. In those eyes, could see anger and hatred, but I could also see somepony alone and afraid. It was over in less than a second, but I saw it. I would not let whatever was causing this fear get in the way of this.
“It is too late for that!” she shouted. “If you know who I am, then you also know why I am here!”
There was a silence as the moment built, none of us wanting to say it. While my courage grew, the panic and terror of the crowed skyrocketed. They were trying to decide when would be the best moment to run for their lives.
“Remember this day, my little ponies, for it was your last!” Nightmare Moon yelled as thunder struck. “From this moment on, the nighttime will last forever!”
She threw back her head in laughter and I ran. I kept running, but I did not know where I would end up. I did not stop until I had reached the edge of the Everfree Forest, a dark place where the laws of our world did not apply.
I do not know why my hooves carried me here, but I felt that it is where I need to go. Celestia once told me that her old castle was in what is now the heart of the forest. Maybe something there could help us. Without her, I had no idea how do defeat Nightmare Moon.
I stared into the dark canopy of trees. I listened. Panicked voices were everywhere in town, and monsters hid in the bushes of the forest. My fear began to come back. I wanted to panic with the rest of them, but somepony needed to do something.
I gathered my courage and stepped into the darkness that was the Everfree Forest.