Flashing Star stamped her hoof in objection. "What do you mean, insubordination?" The chestnut colored unicorn demanded.

"You ignored a direct order from a superior officer -- that's the definition of insubordination!" Shining Armor responded testily. He had just called her into his office to discuss her perfomance, and things were already beginning to escalate; this guard pony had a way of instantly making him lose his patience.

"It was a stupid order, anyway!" She argued, angrily scraping a strand of blond hair from her face – her hair always got into her eyes when she was mad.

"That isn't for you to decide!" The large colt shouted back.

"Well, it should be!"

"That's why we have line of command --"

"So somepony can think for me?" Flashing Star interrupted.

"Enough!" Yelled the normally calm and collected Shining Armor. He was done with this filly -- she had been nothing but problems since her enlistment in the Canterlot Guard. Insubordination was just the latest in a series of red marks in her record. But, Shining Armor had a plan to change all that.

"Flashing Star, you are hereby reassigned; you will leave for Ponyville immediately. You will be aiding in and overseeing the Summer Sun Celebration preparations there. I want the Celebration to shine -- nothing out of place." He applauded himself mentally. This was one problem pony removed from his jurisdiction. "Dismissed!"

Flashing Star was flabbergasted, "Ponyville! You might as well cut off my horn and hooves! Ponyville's a death sentence! Nothing ever happens in that backwater nowhere town!"

This was precisely Shining Armor's point, of course. He knew the young Flashing Star had potential -- but she needed plenty of patience and discipline to temper her natural gift for magic before she would become an asset for Equestria instead of a liability. Hopefully, cooling her hooves in Ponyville for awhile would do the trick.

"I said 'dismissed!'"

Flashing Star knew she had gone too far this time. Seeing the fire in Shining Armor's eyes made her lose hers; she hung her head and returned to her apartment to get her things packed up. As she passed other guard ponies on her way to the barracks, the young unicorn couldn't help but feel that this might be the last time she'd see them.

Ponyville, ugh. She's rather be thrown in the dungeons.

*****

The next day at dawn, Flashing Star was at the Canterlot Train Station, prepared to leave her hometown forever. Not officially a part of the guard anymore, she wore her light blond hair in a loose ponytail tied with a pink scrunchy. She would miss the city's dazzling sights and delicious food, but most of all -- she'd miss her friends.

As though the thought had summoned her, Aquamarine cantered into the station, pulling a small piece of luggage.

Aquamarine was a hippocampus, a seapony -- like all of her kind, she had the ability to magically transform her hindquarters between a powerful tail for swimming and a pair of scaled pony legs. Her seafoam green fur turned to shimmering blue scales at her flank, which was decorated with a crashing wave Cutie Mark. Cascading down her neck was a wild mane of aquamarine hair.

"What, come to see me die in disgrace?" Flashing Star cried melodramatically.

"I'm here to join you," the hippocampus answered simply.

"Join me? No, no, no! I'm going to Ponyville -- it's like, Dull City! I wouldn't wish that on anypony!"

"Hey, what're PFFs for? I'm coming, and that's that." The two had become Pony Friends Forever shortly after meeting, when Flashing Star defended the hippocampus from some xenophobic bullies.

The young unicorn smiled in spite of herself. "Alright, we'll face exile together! Thanks, Aqua."

"My pleasure, Flash," Aquamarine winked back.

A carriage came in short order, drawn by two sleepy looking pegasi. Aquamarine did her best to keep her friend from having a meltdown, but the ride was still a little tense.

*****

For better or for worse, Ponyville was just as Flashing Star imagined it, a quiet little town on the edge of the Everfree Forest. This sleepy place hadn't seen any growth in years, ever since the Apple family passed it up and settled in Ponyshire.

The two friends stepped off the carriage, uncertain where they would go to 'oversee the preparations.' A mare was waiting for them, and trotted over to the pair. Seeing that their passengers had a welcoming party, the two pegasi who drew the carriage fled the scene.

The ochre Earth Pony smiled brightly at the two Canterlot ponies and introduced herself. "Hi there! You must be our special guests! We don't get guests very often here in Ponyville -- but I'm your official greeter! Yay." She had a dark purple mane and a paisley scarf tied around her neck.

Flashing Star blinked slowly, "Your town is tiny."

"Err, yeah, pleasure to meet you and all that. Meet Flashing Star, your guest of honor. I'm Aquamarine. You probably know we're here to oversee the preparations for the holiday. So, what do you do around here?" The hippocampus interjected.

"Oh, I do a bit of everything. It's nice to meet you, by the way!" the pony answered happily, "and my name is Paisley Trot. Where would you like to see first? There's so much I could show you -- ooh how about the library?"

"You have a library?" Flashing Star moped. She affected surprise that this rinky-dink town had something as luxurious as a library. The unicorn rolled her eyes, wallowing in her misfortune.

"Oh, come off it!" Aquamarine chided her old friend. To Paisley she said, "the library would be a great place to start."

*****

As the trio of ponies walked, Flashing Star looked about the town. They passed quaint houses and shops with thatched roofs and wide, inviting windows. The unicorn thought about admitting to herself that the place had a certain charm, but decided against it. After about fifteen minutes' walk, the library stood before them.

Ponyville's library was an unusual building, because it was built into a great tree, and boasted the town's characteristic large windows. It was even topped with a deck and telescope.

"Now, before I introduce you to our librarian, I should warn you -- she's a little different," Paisley Trot was saying.

"Different how?" Aquamarine arched an eyebrow.

"Well," the Earth Pony's voice dropped to a conspiratal whisper, "she's a griffon!"

Laughter greeted the revelation. Paisley Trot looked confused. "Um, haha, I guess?" She laughed along uncertainly.

"Paisley, we're from Canterlot. A griffon isn't exactly unheard of in the big city." Flashing Star elaborated condescendingly.

"Plus, I'm a hippocampus!" Aquamarine chimed in happily. "So, you're all different than me."

"A hippo-what?" Came Paisley's reply.

"Y-you mean you didn't notice?" The hippocampus said uncertainly. What was up with this pony?

"A hippocampus is a sea-pony," a voice called from above, level and monotone, "denizons of the deep, they hail from Atlantis, the Sunken City located on the bottom of the ocean. All hippocampi possess the magical ability to swim like fish through the water, and walk like ponies on land. I've never met one before."

The three ponies watched as a griffon flew from one of the open windows and landed gently on the ground before them. She had dark brown wings, with light red highlights on her wingtips and the crest of her head. Her chest and head were covered with fluffy white feathers speckled with brown. The griffon's leonine body was a sandy golden brown.

"Flashing Star, Aquamarine, I'd like to introduce you to Lorequill, Ponyville's librarian!" Paisley Trot said happily. She mentally applauded at the impressive entrance.

"Hi, its nice to meet -- what are you doing?" Aquamarine's introduction was interrupted as the griffon plucked a glistening scale from her flank and examined it with a magnifying glass.

"Fascinating, my books failed to mention that hippocampi have scaly flanks. Most unusual. The striation is significantly different than a dragon's implying no shared heritage as I had hypothosized," The griffon stopped for a moment, apparently realizing for the first time that everypony was staring at her. She pocketed the scale and magnifying glass with nonchalance. "Was there something you needed?"

"I'm here to make sure Ponyville is ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. You're in charge of reading the legend before the raising of the sun?" Flashing Star pointed a hoof at Lorequill. She meant the gesture to be authorative, but it looked more accusatory. The griffon seemed to barely notice.

"Oh, yes, I've written a speech. Would you like to hear it?" A sparkle shined in Lorequill's eyes.

Not wanting to seem anything less than thorough, Flashing Star agreed. "Sure, but let's go inside first?"

Lorequill led Flashing Star, Aquamarine, and Paisley Trot into her library. The inside was meticulously clean, with shelves upon shelves of carefully organized books. The griffon went to a cozy table in a windowed nook to retrieve the scroll she had penned her speech on. Unfurling it and clearing her throat, the griffon began without any ado.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, your attention please. Settle down -- settle down, please." The griffon calmed an imaginary crowd, her eyes glued to the paper in front of her face. "Attention grabbing introduction: on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in Nightmare Moon's escape from her prison on the moon. This old pony tale is told in several of the books in my library, and is an interesting way to look at this historic Summer Sun Celebration we are about to witness."

"Is she always so... so..." Flashing Star searched for the right words, "Is she always like this?" she whispered to Paisley Trot.

"Uh huh! She's so well-informed." The ochre pony gushed.

"Right..."

Lorequill droned on about some old legend while Flashing Star politely pretended to pay attention. This griffon just had one of those voices that made it too easy for the headstrong unicorn to tune out. She examined her hoof closely.

"... and I hope we can all have a safe and happy Summer Sun Celebration. The end. Pause for applause." After what seemed like forever, the golden griffon concluded her speech. She gently refurled her scroll and tucked it away on her desk. Only then did Lorequill look up at her audience.

"That was really good!" Paisley clapped her hooves enthusiastically.

"Yeah, really informative," added Aquamarine. "I had no idea the Summer Sun Celebration had such a history to it."

"Most ponies don't." Lorequill responded with a deadpan expression.

"R-right. Um, so thanks. I think it all checks out here, don't you, Flash?" The Hippocampus asked her friend.

"Yes. Yes it does." Flashing Star smiled and nodded. She desperately hoped everyone she met wouldn't have hour long speeches for her to sit through. Still, the griffon obviously knew her stuff, even if presentation wasn't her thing.

"I'm glad; we'll have to talk after the speech. I have many more anecdotes about historic Summer Sun Celebrations that I was unable to fit into the speech, but would be glad to share with you." The griffon's monotone voice was inscrutible -- was she trying to be friendly?

"Sure, but I need to go make sure everypony else is doing as great a job as you are!" Flashing Star answered readily. Wow, did she just say that? Aquamarine looked at her approvingly; it's good to make new friends.

With a newfound sense of diplomacy, the unicorn, earth pony, and hippocampus set off to their next destination. Behind them, Lorequill the griffon read up on humorous and entertaining anecdotes about the Summer Sun Celebration, just to be sure they were fresh in her mind.

*****

The three little ponies wandered for a few minutes before Flashing Star piped up.

"Where are you taking us now, Paisley?"

"Whoa! I was following you!" She claimed innocently.

"B-but, you're the guide." Aquamarine protested,

"Oh yeah," Paisley Trot recalled, "sorry about that. Hey, where do you wanna go next?"

"We need to check up on decorations, music, food, and the weather," Flashing Star answered after a moment's thought.

"Oh! That's easy because I'm handling all of that! Well, except for the weather." The ochre pony laughed manically.

"Err, you are? That's a lot of stuff for somepony that's apparently got enough free time to show strangers around the town," the unicorn observed wryly.

"Not by myself, silly-billy. Obviously, I have help. Its what I do! I'm a pony of all trades, and I'm really good at helping people. You can tell from my Cutie Mark! Its a scarf with a pretty design on it, because I'm like the scarf and all the ponies I help are the design and we all work together to make a pretty Cutie Mark! Or something."

Flashing Star stared at Paisley Trot. There was definitely something wrong with this pony.

"So... Do you wanna see the decorations and stuff? I mean, I've got it under control but if you want to be thourough I understand," Paisley continued blithely.

Aquamarine looked skeptical. Flashing Star looked skyward.

Tidily arranged little white puffs were sprinkled here and there throughout the bright blue sky. Flashing Star asked Paisley Trot just who was responsible for the weather.

"That's Zephyr! She's really nice -- I just know you're gonna love her. C'mon, she lives over here." With that, Paisley began to canter off towards a small cluster of hills on the outskirts of Ponyville.

"Should I know anything 'special' about this pony?" Flash asked when she caught up to the exuberant ochre pony.

"Um, no I don't think so. Nothing you haven't seen in Canterlot, I guess." Paisley's tone was light and teasing of the cosmopolitan unicorn. Her eyes held only mirth and no judgment.

As they climbed up the grassy hill, the three ponies found a cozy cloud house resting in the sheltered area between the cluster of hills. A white pegasus with light green, braided hair fussed with a decorative cloud sculpture she was working on.

"Oh Zephyr! I've brought somepony you just have to meet!" Paisley called up to the pegasus.

Curious, Zephyr left her work unfinished and flew down to her waiting friend. She landed on the grassy hill and smiled at the newcomers to Ponyville.

"Hello, I'm Zephyr," she introduced herself. Her tone was casual. "So what brings you to Ponyville?"

"I'm here to oversee your town's preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration," Flashing Star said self-importantly. Not wanting to sound rude, she added, "So far, they look great; I'm impressed."

It was true: Ponyville was much more interesting and diverse than Flash had thought. She smiled.

"Her name's Flashing Star, and I'm Aquamarine. We're... visiting from Canterlot. It's nice to meet so many new friends here in Ponyville." Aquamarine butted in yet again. Her friend sure could be clueless when it came to meeting new ponies. The hippocampus rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

Zephyr cracked a warm smile in return. "Weather's scheduled to clear up at six tonight and be nothing but blue skies 'til two days after the Celebration's over. I'm on it, so don't worry."

"Don't you think you should clear up those little clouds now?" Flashing Star piped up, she really didn't want the sky to be cloudy for the celebration.

"No. It's only three. I said it isn't scheduled 'til six."

"But --"

"I said it isn't scheduled 'til six!" Zephyr declared with finality.

"Okay," the unicorn squeaked, falling on her rump from the pegasus' vehemence.

Paisley Trot picked her new friend up. "If Zephyr says it'll be done by six, you can set your clock to it. She's the most punctual pony in Ponyville!"

Zephyr blushed.

"Well, I guess that's all we need to see here," Flashing Star murmured. "What was that you were working on up there?"

"I sculpt in my free time. Maybe I can show you when I'm done?" Zephyr offered with a smile. She indicated her Cutie Mark, a tidy circle of fluffy white clouds that represented her mastery of cloud manipulation.

"That would be nice," the chestnut mare replied. Maybe there was something interesting to do in Ponyville after all. "So, where to next, Paisley?"

"The only thing left to check out is the location -- y'know, where the party actually happens!" Paisley Trot seemed especially pleased about this final destination, and led the way with a skip in her canter.

*****

It wasn't long before the trio of ponies arrived at the main meeting grounds of Ponyville. The wide dirt area was cleared and stamped flat by generations of hooves. It was covered in the trappings of the Summer Sun Celebration. From yellow streamers and tablecloths, to beautiful flower arrangements, it was clear that the party would happen here. There was still a bit of work to be done, and large boxes near the stage were being unpacked by a few cheerful-looking citizens.

“Wow,” Flashing Star breathed, looking at the impressive grounds before her.

“I know, right?” Paisley Trot replied happily, a huge smile on her face. “I kinda oversee the whole thing and help where I can, but its really a group effort!”

“We can tell,” Aquamarine said, impressed.

“Okay, so what do you wanna know about? Music's over there – the Ponyville Ska Band will be performing for us – we'll have refreshments on these tables, and you can see the decorations are taken care of already!” Paisley pointed to various tables as she spoke.

“Who are you talking to, Paisley?” A melodious voice called from the stage area. A lithe zebra picked her way around the scattered decorations that were not yet in use and, with a smile and a couple of leaps, she was next to her old friend, Paisley Trot. Her mane was styled in the characteristic zebra mohawk, and a red cross Cutie Mark graced her flank. “Friends of yours? I can't say I've had the pleasure...”

“Oh, hi Kitoko! You'll really like these two ponies.” Paisley giggled and hugged her zebra friend. “This is Flashing Star, and this is Aquamarine. Aquamarine's a hippo! Isn't that cool?”

“--campus, a hippocampus,” the seapony clarified, holding a hoof up in objection.

“Right, that's what I said. And Flashing Star is overseeing our Summer Sun Celebration this year, so she's inspecting us to make sure we don't screw anything up. I tried to tell her it was silly, and we had everything under control, but you know --”

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” the zebra, Kitoko, smoothly talked over her exuberant friend. Years of close friendship made the act natural, and not rude. “My name is Kitoko, and I work at the hospital here. Paisley taught me to bake when I first came to Ponyville, and that's my contribution to the celebration tomorrow.”

“She learned really quickly!” Paisley piped up.

“Baking is very much like making poultices and potions – one must simply follow a recipe,” Kitoko elaborated, smiling. Clearly, the conversation had been had before.

Flashing Star looked at the two good friends and couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from lifting. There was so much love here in Ponyville – not that there wasn't in Canterlot, too – but the ponies here were so much more open and friendly than the snobby Canterlot elite. She looked at her own best friend, and put a hoof around her shoulders.

“Well, it looks like you really do have everything under control, Paisley! So what now? I don't think we need to look at anything else.” The unicorn said.

“Oh, but you really have to go see the library,” Paisley insisted.

“Didn't we already see the library?” Flashing Star asked, confusion on her face. “It's run by Lorequill the griffon, right?”

“Well, yeah, but... I think we should go again,” the earth pony insisted, her eyes darting back and forth as she tried to think of a good reason to go back there.

“Well, why would we go again?” the unicorn looked confused.

“Just trust me, okay?” Paisley winked. Flashing Star felt suspicious, but decided to trust her new friend and go along with her.

“Alright, Paisley, lead the way.”

The library was dark and quiet as the four little ponies approached. Aquamarine scratched her head.

“It looks closed,” she observed.

“Hmm, well let's just have a peek, then,” Paisley said impishly. Aquamarine and Flashing Star exchanged quizzical looks. “After you, of course,” she said to the two or them.

Flashing Star didn't see the point, but she carefully approached the door all the same. It was unlocked, and there was nothing but darkness inside. She called out to the others to join her.

Flashing Star, Aquamarine, Paisley Trot, and Kitoko all carefully picked their ways through the darkened library, bumping into each other.

“Why didn't you bring a light?”

“I thought you had one.”

“You're a unicorn, Flash – use your magic!”

“What? Uh, yeah, I was just about to...”

Unicorn magic illuminated the library, as Flashing Star used a quick light spell. All the citizens of Ponyville were gathered around the library, squinting and smiling in the brightness coming from Flash's horn. Lorequill cleared her throat and said something poignant that was completely drowned by all the other ponies yelling “SURPRISE!”

“What's all this?” Flashing Star asked, amused.

“It is a surprise party for you,” Lorequill intoned once the ruckus had died down. The tidy griffon smoothed her feathers and approached her new friends. “I was approached by Paisley Trot after you had left my library earlier, and the rest fell into place quickly as she distracted you around town.”

“When did you have time to --” Aquamarine started to say, but was cut off.

“Now you know everypony here – isn't that great?” Paisley said, her face split in half by an enormous grin.

“I made this for you,” Zephyr said, appearing from nowhere and indicating an elaborate cloud sculpture of a prancing pony that served as a centerpiece for the main buffet table.

“Wow, you really are good!” Flash exclaimed, looking at the piece.

“Now that we're all here, let's PARTY!” Paisley Trot declared with finality.

The six new friends reveled late into the night.

Raising the sun on the morning of the Summer Sun Celebration is the most important ceremony of the day, and naturally every pony in Ponyville was there to witness it. The food was set out, the decorations were immaculate, and the Ponyville Ska Band was ready to play Princess Celestia in as she came through the stage's curtains. There was an air of expectation and joy throughout the grounds.

Lorequill was on the stage with the mayor of Ponyville. As the clock chimed the hour, all eyes fell upon the curtain as Princess Celestia stepped through --

“Where is the Princess?” Flashing Star looked around for the ruler of Equestria.

Lorequill looked alarmed, taking a quick glance behind the heavy white sheet. “She's not here,” the griffon said matter-of-factly.

Confusion tore through the populace. The Princess was gone? Why would that happen? Who would raise the sun?

As though in answer to the ponies' panic, a dark blue mist erupted from the stage. Behind the curtain, something stirred, and a loud laugh cut through the gathered citizens' dismayed cries.

“Citizens of Ponyville...” the voice began, as an impressive midnight blue alicorn revealed herself on the stage. “I'm afraid your precious Princess won't be raising the sun for you – ever again!”

If the panic before was a disaster, this was a catastrophe. Ponies began to run here and there, some fell wailing to their knees, but Flashing Star stepped up.

“Just who do you think you are? Our Princess would never abandon us!”

“Your princess? Am I not royal enough for you? Do you not know who I am?” the alicorn narrowed her eyes, “none of you observed the signs? Celestia did not warn you?”

“Ahem, if I may,” Lorequill deadpanned, stepping around the paralyzed mayor, “I believe I have just the speech to explain this turn of events... You are the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon.”

“The Mare in the Moon!?” The gathered ponies stopped their rioting and said the name skeptically. “But that's just an old pony's tale.” The obvious silliness of the suggestion instantly calmed the mob.

Sensing that she was losing control of the situation, Nightmare Moon stamped her hoof, sending a crackling lightning bolt from the cloudy night sky to strike the ground in front of her. A clap of thunder further cowed the little ponies of Ponyville. “Enough! It is I, Nightmare Moon, and I have returned! Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”

As the gathering storm increased in intensity, Nightmare Moon laughed and laughed. She had waited a thousand years for this moment, and the grief and pain on these simpering little ponies' faces was everything she had hoped it would be. Still, there was other work to do, and she couldn't gloat forever. With another ear-splitting blast of thunder, the Alicorn of the Night melted back into dark mist and flew from Ponyville.

Flashing Star could not believe it. With a determined look on her face, she pushed her way out of the stricken crowd of ponies and ran after Nightmare Moon.

Aquamarine was lost in the confusion for a moment, but quickly recovered. She saw her best friend's yellow tail disappearing into the night, and called out to the other ponies.

“C'mon, you guys, I think Flash has a plan – let's help her out!” The Hippocampus led the charge from Ponyville, hot on the heels of Flashing Star.

At the edge of the Everfree Forest, Aquamarine, Zephyr, Paisley Trot, Kitoko, and Lorequill finally caught up to Flashing Star.

“That's the Everfree Forest, Flashing Star!” Zephyr said in dismay.

“That place isn't natural,” Kitoko elaborated, “it's said it doesn't work the same as the rest of Equestria.”

“What does that mean? Sounds like an old pony's tale,” Flashing Star scoffed.

“Need I remind you that we're currently chasing an old pony's tale?” the zebra arched an eyebrow wryly.

“Well, thank you for coming this far, but I need to stop this alone – I think that's why Shining Armor sent me here to begin with.”

“Sorry, Flash, but that is not happening,” Aquamarine stepped up, meeting her lifelong friend's stony gaze unwaveringly. “We are going with you.”

“But --”

“No buts, Flash. We're your friends, and we're in this together.”

Flashing Star nodded. Maybe she could use the company in this dark forest after all. The chestnut colored unicorn grinned and laughed “Alright, we'll do this the right way: together.”

Author's Note

Comments and critique appreciated!