The rays of sunlight crept through the crack in the curtain and shined on the occupied bed. In response, the mare on the bed shifted, pulling the covers over her head. After a moment of silence, the door burst in as Spike entered.
“Moon Dancer!”
The mare grumpily sat up as the blanket fell away. Moon Dancer’s messy mane hung out over her face, blinding her. She pushed her mane out of her face and quickly put on her glasses.
“Spike, what is it?”
“You’re going to be late!”
“For what?”
“Don’t you remember? Today was the unveiling of the new library!”
MooD dancer’s eyes widened in surprise as she flung the blankets off. She leapt onto her hooves and quickly stretched out her wings as she summoned a brush and mirror.
“How late am I?”
“Not that late, you still have plenty of time,” Spike replied as the urgency left his voice and posture. Moon Dancer paused, midbrush.
“What?”
“I knew if I woke you up normally, you’d just drift off to sleep,” Spike glance over at the clock, “You have plenty of time.”
Moon Dancer stared at her assistant, “....Spike, I’m not sure if I’m too tired to scold you, or impressed that you managed to trick me.”
“I’ll make breakfast while you decide.”
The dragon left the room as Mood Dancer returned to brushing her mane. Again, she was interrupted as something tapped on her window. The Princess of Friendship glanced over as a turquoise pegasus with a golden mane grinned back. Mood Dancer rolled her eyes as she undid the latch on her window. The pegasus pulled the window open and slipped into the room.
“You’re up early, Egghead.” the pegasus grinned as she laid on Mood Dancer’s bed.
“Spike woke me up, Lighting Dust. Can you not do that?”
“Oh come on, Egghead, you’re just gonna wash the blankets after breakfast anyway,” the Element of Honesty rolled over, wrapping herself in the blankets.
“Still kinda warm.”
“....That’s just creepy.”
---
A pair of mares continued to direct others as they continued to set up banners and other decorations. The younger of the two, a magenta unicorn with a violet mane shook her head.
“No, no, more to the left!” she called out, “Other left!”
“That is our left!” one of the pegasi holding the banner shouted back.
“Then go to the right!” she yelled back. She paused as she felt a hoof on her shoulder. An older grey-coated earth mare with an indigo streaked mane shook her head.
“Amethyst, calm down, they’re doing fine.”
“I know,” the unicorn grumbled.
“Miss Coloratura!”
The earth mare turned to look as three fillies ran up to her. The leader of the three, a light coated pegasus with glasses pointed behind them before speaking.
“Miss Coloratura, the sign fell down again and Rumble said he didn’t want to put it back up so-”
“Alright Zipporwhill, we’ll send someone to deal with it,” Coloratura patted the pegasus on the head, “Amethyst, why don’t you go help them?”
“Whatever.”
The three led Amethyst away as Coloratura turned her attention to another set of ponies.
“That’s excellent,” she smiled, “Now, would you gentlecolts mind helping set up the refreshment tables? The Cakes and the Apples should be here soon.”
“Yes ma'am!”
The Element of Laughter smiled as the Stallions set out.
---
“So what’s the problem, kids?” Amethyst asked.
“Rumble and Featherweight were trying to put the banner up, but they got tangled up and it got worse.” Zipporwhill responded.
“Aww, really?” Amethyst groaned, “How bad is it?”
“Well…” Zipporwhill trailed off as she glanced at her earth pony friend. Silver Spoon paused to push her glasses up before continuing.
“Pretty bad, Featherweight’s stuck.” Silver Spoon responded.
“What do you mean, he’s stuck?”
“He’s…” Silver Spoon trailed off, “Dinky explains it better.”
Dinky glared at Silver Spoon before she began to speak, “Rumble sneeze and slipped down.”
“Oh, it can’t be that ba….”
Amethyst trailed off at the scene in front of her. Rumble and several other foals struggled to free Featherweight from the tangle of banner wrapped around his head, wings and legs.
“...How in Equestria did you all manage this?” the Element of Kindness groaned, “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to untangle him.”
“But the class worked hard to make the banner.”
Amethyst glanced up at the clocktower, “We might have the time. Silver Spoon, you and Zee go let Coloratura know that we might have to cut up the banner. Dinky, you’re with me on this. The rest of you, go see if there’s anything else to do.”
---
The amber pegasus glanced up at the clocktower again. She slumped back in her seat, sliding forward.
“Train’s late.” she grumbled as she glanced over at her companion. She did a double take at the empty seat next to her. The pegasus straightened out as she looked around for her companion. She glanced to her right and paused, frowning at the scene in front of her. A green earth mare laid on the ground, stretching and shifting into odd positions. She caught the pegasus’ eye.
“Really?” the pegasus asked, “Really?”
“You gotta learn to relax, Wild Fire,” the green mare shifted again as she continued on, “Your chakras are most definitely out of it. Even from here I can tell that your Solar Plexus is dominating the others, you know? Even too much raw emotion is bad for you, you know?”
“I did not agree to do this so that you would start talking about all that again,” Wild Fire grumbled, “Do you really have to do yoga at the train station, Tree Hugger?”
“Most definitely. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping,”
“None of the birds are chirping,” Wild Fire cut in.
“..And this is when I usually do yoga anyway,” The element of Generosity ignored her friend, “Usually it’s at my hut, and I arranged everything to help my Sacral chakras, but over here will totally help the others.”
“...Train’s coming,” the Element of Loyalty ignored her friend as she got up. Tree Hugger shift again, rolling onto her hooves.
“What did Moon Dancer say her name was again?” Tree Hugger asked.
“Just let me do the talking.”
The two watched the ponies as they left the train, looking for their target.
“Ah, that’s her. Matches what Moon Dancer said,” Wild Fire pointed to a unicorn.
“Righteous.”
The two trotted over. The unicorn mare glanced down at a scrap of paper in her hoof before looking up.
“Wild Fire?” the unicorn asked.
“Yep. You must be…”
“Most pleasing to meet you, I’m Tree Hugger,” Tree Hugger interrupted, “You’re most obviously Moony’s friend, you’ve got the same vibes as she does.”
“...Thanks?”
“Anyway, we ought to be going over to the library, The opening ceremony is going to start soon and we don’t want the new librarian to be late.”
Tree Hugger turned around and began to walk back towards the town. The Unicorn frowned and looked at Wild Fire.
“Is she alright?”
“That’s just how Tree Hugger is,” Wild Fire sighed, “She’s always a bit out there, you know what I’m saying?”
“...Sort of?”
“Good enough. She’s right though, we better hurry up.”
---
The crowd gathered in front of the new library: a ribbon sat draped around the doorway, while a cloth covered up the new building’s sign. In front, a small stage was set up: Moon Dancer, Spike and another, white coated unicorn mare in a suit jacket. The mare glanced up at the clocktower again before turning towards Moon Dancer.
“Darling, I don’t think we can wait much longer, are you certain she’s here?”
“I’m sure Mayor Rarity, she’s never one to be late.”
“Well, I might as well start. At the very least they can see the new sign before the new librarian.”
Rarity walked up to the podium and tapped lightly on the microphone, getting everypony’s attention.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, as you know after the destruction of Ponyville’s latest library and the formation of Princess Moon Dancer’s castle, Ponyville has been in need of a new library. Thanks to the generous donations from Moon Dancer, citizens of this town and elsewhere, we have finally finished the construction of the new library. Now, as much as I would like to introduce the library myself, I shall hand this over to Princess Moon Dancer.”
Rarity backed away from the podium as Moon Dancer stepped forward. The audience clapped politely as the princess cleared her throat.
“My fellow citizens of Ponyville, I’m honored to stand here in front of you to unveil our new library. As I’m sure many of you know, the old Golden Oak Library was my home away from home...No, no, that’s not true.” Moon Dancer paused.
“As Ponyville became my new hometown, Golden Oak Library became my new home. So it is with great pleasure that I present to you...The Book and Branches Library.”
As Moon Dancer spoke those words, she pulled off the cloth, revealing the library’s sign. Applause filled the air as ponies began to cheer.
“Really?” Lightning Dust grumbled under her breath, “That’s what she decided to call it? It’s like a Six-year old named it.” She winced as Amethyst jabbed an elbow into her ribs, “What? I’m just saying.”
“Be nice,” Coloratura chidded.
Moon Dancer paused as the cheering died down. The Alicorn scanned the crowd, looking for someone.
“Where is she…” she muttered under her breath. As she looked through the crowd a second time. she noticed Tree Hugger and Wild Fire.
“Don’t worry Moony!” Tree Hugger called out, “She’s here!”
Wild Fire slapped a hoof to her forehead.
The crowd parted slightly as the unicorn mare made her way through the crowd and reached the stage. She quickly made her way up, onto the stage and took her place next to Moon Dancer. giving the crowd a good look at her: Her mane was tied up in an awkward looking ponytail, while she wore a slightly worn out sweater. Without a word, Moon Dancer embraced the other mare.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Moon Dancer stated.
“I am too.”
They separated as Moon Dancer once again took the podium.
“Citizens of Ponyville, I am pleased to introduce your new librarian and one of my oldest friends,” Moon Dancer paused as the other mare stepped forward.
“Please give a warm, Ponyville welcome to Trixie Lulamoon!”
Author's Note
What, you thought it was going to be Twilight?
