‘Twas the night before Wednesday, and all through the house,
Twilight Sparkle was running and stomping about.
The young dragon Spike was asleep in his bed,
While visions of Rarity danced in his head.
The reason for Twilight’s newfound agitation
Could be seen in the midst of the night’s constellations,
For up in the sky had appeared without cause
A bright-shining star ‘gainst all known phys'cal laws.
“Oh, Twilight,” said Fluttershy, “what could it mean?
My animal friends are all making a scene.
The squirrels are squirrelly, the birds won’t sit still;
The fish swim in circles, and Angel is ill.
The owls all think it’s still day and won’t wake.
The mice say it’s all so much more than they’ll take.
It’s not that I can’t handle something that’s new,
But my critters are worried. Oh, what can I do?”
“I simply don’t know,” Twilight answered, dismayed;
“It doesn’t make sense. How are stars even made?
I know I’ve a book on the subject somewhere,
Though guess where it’s gone I would not even dare.
Are they great balls of gas burning miles into space?
Some magical construct of Celestia’s make?
I must do more research,” she said to her friend,
“Before I can tell you this mystery’s end.”
“Aw, schucks,” said Applejack with a tip of her hat,
“Ah’ll tell you the meaning behind all of that.
‘Tis the Hearth’s Warming Star shining up in the sky;
The earth pony stories cannot tell a lie.
It’s a sign from the great pony monarchs of yore
That our fightin’ and moanin’ and groanin’ and war
Are forgiven, so long as our errors we mend.
‘Tis a sign that all ponykind can start again.”
“Nonsense,” said Rarity, brushing her mane.
“It’s a mark that good fortune won’t suddenly wane.
The great astrological tables of fate
Have never misled me, at least not to date.
This star beams ‘twixt Manticore, Dragon and Whale;
It coincides neatly with Gemstone and Bale.
The only conclusion that we can draw now
Is that fortune shines brightly on our little town.”
“Oh, please,” sighed swift Rainbow Dash, flying o'erhead.
“It’s a Wonderbolt stunt. Have you all gone braindead?
It’s been in the paper all this month and last:
‘The Wonderbolts prove they are in their own class!’
They asked all the unicorns in Canterlot
To conjure a giant white orb super-hot.
They’re proving their toughness by flying around it
Without getting burned. Can you say they have spirit?”
“My turn!” yelled Pinkie from the top of the frame.
“Oh, please let me go. I just love guessing games!
I bet it’s a sign from the Great Pony Giver
Who flies in a sleigh pulled by eight mighty reindeer.
They circle Equestria each year on this night
In search of good fillies and colts to delight.
He leaves them sweet goodies and pastries and toys
And nice juicy apples and things that make noise!”
So the friends argued about who was right,
And Fluttershy feared no sure answer that night.
Rarity spoke of her astrology,
While Applejack held to ‘traditionality.’
Twilight did speak about science and laws,
While Pinkie Pie ranted of some ‘Pony Claus.’
The small yellow pegasus quietly left,
Sad that she’d gone with an answer bereft.
The dark, quiet streets were neither dark nor quiet,
As denizens of Ponyville drew near to riot.
Some ponies stared at the new star with wonder.
Others ran hither and thither like thunder.
Mayor Mare called for an end to the panic,
Saying the problem was “purely organic.”
Her words did little to calm down the throng,
And Derpy said, “I just don’t know what went wrong!”
Fluttershy walked through the streets in stark silence,
Hoping the night would not end in some violence.
“This star has stirred everyone into a tizzy.
It’s almost enough to make me feel all dizzy.”
She passed by a trio of crusading fillies,
Huddled together near a stand filled with lilies.
Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo
Looked as though each had just seen her own doom.
The pegasus breathed deep and steeled her resolve.
“Looks like somepony’s a myst'ry to solve.
All of my friends have their own explanation,
But ‘till one’s agreed on, there’ll be no cessation.”
Determined to get to the root of the fissure,
Fluttershy galloped straight home to her critters.
Soothing them all as best as she could,
She then set a course for Everfree’s dark wood.
Into the forest the pegasus plunged,
Through thistle and bramble her small body lunged
‘Till at last in the starlight the castle appeared,
A castle abandoned for one thousand years.
Her now-frequent visits had etched in her mind
Its exact location through bog, mire and vine.
For somewhere within its ancient stone walls,
She knew lay the secret of the new star’s cause.
An old book, perhaps? the pegasus thought
As up the old staircase she started to trot.
The castle holds records both ancient and wise,
And so many secrets in this run-down guise.
Or maybe a tapestry, she did consider,
That illustrates how this strange light got its flicker.
There’s so much new knowledge this place could impart,
If only I knew just the best way to start.
As Fluttershy pondered the options galore,
She noticed the wind had begun to soar.
Looking above, in a flash of bright light,
She saw two great alicorns coming in flight.
One was as white as her friend Angel’s fur,
Bearing the sun’s yellow sigil with her.
The other had moonlight adorning her side,
Shining for all to see her royal pride.
Taken aback, Fluttershy held her peace
While Equestria’s rulers their travel did cease.
“Welcome, dear Fluttershy,” Celestia said.
“What brings you here, and what fills you with dread?”
The timid young pegasus swallowed once, twice,
Then took a deep breath and asked for advice.
“My princesses,” Fluttershy whispered in awe.
“I come seeking answers, for we’re at a draw.”
“Speak on,” said Luna. “We’ll hear of your doubt.
It’s time we found what this fuss is about.”
Fluttershy swallowed again, and then spoke.
“This star in the heavens our panic evokes.
It’s never been seen in our starry night skies,
And reasons abound as to its sudden rise.
No pony is sure who is wrong or is right.
I ask that you help me to shed on it light.”
The princesses smiled and shared a quick glance.
“And what do your Ponyville friend say, by chance?”
“Some say a sign of good fortune,” she said.
“Others, a message from rulers long dead.
Rainbow Dash says it’s Wonderbolt stuff;
Those who say otherwise get her in a huff.
Twilight says science, and Pinkie says toys.
Oh, I just don’t know who to trust in this noise!”
“Fluttershy,” Princess Celestia began.
“I’m sorry to hear of the strife in your clan.
However, I’m happy to tell you that we
Are able to guide you, though none can agree.
This star that has caused such a stir in this land
Has origins ancient, so strange yet so grand.
For this star’s true meaning, you will shortly see,
Is all that its viewers do wish it to be.”
Fluttershy paused as her mind took it in.
She couldn’t quite fathom why Celestia grinned.
“How can that be?” she asked with a frown.
“How will that help calm the ponies in town?”
“You see,” stated Luna, “this star was a gift,
Though from whom and for whom is always adrift.
I raise it at times when I feel it is right,
And somepony needs its bright guiding light.
For some, it means peace and a time to rejoice,
A time for reunion, to sing with one voice.
For others, a light in the dark of despair,
A promise that better days come in their care.
Still others find in it chance to relax,
A moment to ponder and fill in the cracks.
And others find nothing remarkable there,
Another bright star that hangs in the air.
You see, my dear Fluttershy, that is its beauty,
Its entire purpose and its solemn duty.
Every last pony who’s ever set sight
On that orb finds courage to overcome fright.
Many will see it and see what they will,
And find in it just what their soul needs to fill.
The answer, dear Fluttershy, is simple indeed.
That bright, shining orb means whatever you need.”
The princesses left then, for duties they had,
And Fluttershy went back to town feeling glad.
She spoke with the mayor, who gathered a crowd,
And Fluttershy stood right before them and bowed.
“I know, um, the new star has caused quite a stir
And most of you have some meaning you prefer.
I want you to know that everypony’s right,
So long as nopony finds reason to fight.”
The ponies looked ‘round with expressions bemused
And silently asked if it was a strange ruse.
“You see,” said the pegasus, “I’ve come to learn
The spirit of Wednesday's easy to discern.
It’s not about details and whose story’s right;
It’s not about quarr’ling and bringing out spite.
This night’s strange events can bring hope to us all.
However we need it, that star comes when called.”
The ponies then muttered and whispered and spoke,
For Fluttershy’s words then did not seem a joke.
“It makes me feel happy,” said one in the crowd.
“It helps me find peace,” said another aloud.
A third to himself said, “It’s just one more day.”
And somepony answered, “Well, that’s just okay.”
“To me, it means giving,” another did sigh.
“Let’s all have a party!” shouted Pinkie Pie.
She stepped away then from the microphone stand,
And all of the ponies began to disband.
Some returned home, and some others to work,
But all of them started to climb from the murk.
The star by itself had no meaning or cause.
It had no agenda, nor virtues or flaws.
Each pony decided to think what she might,
And Ponyville’s ponies slept peacefully that night.
In a secluded part of the Everfree Forest, Zecora sat on her porch and looked at the night sky. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, a smile playing on her lips. “How good it feels to be able to talk normally,” she muttered. “I do wish the No-Rhyme Star would appear more often.”
