Summer Sun Celebration

[Nettleglum]

Good evening, dears.

By the grace of her most royal sovereign of Equestria, the Princess Luna, I am pleased to announce that she is allowing her sister a somewhat justified day in the spotlight. The event known as the Summer Sun Celebration will take place on our muck on Monday, June 23rd, in the royal city of Canterlot.

Please turn out to provide encouragement to her majesty's sister (whom some ponies know as Junior Princess Celestia), who will do her utmost to entertain ponies by performing card tricks or raising the sun or... whatever it is she does. Surely, a good time will be had by many. As the celebration of the longest day of the Equestrian year, there will be food, cake, games, cake, music, and cake. I am reliably informed that cake spontaneously occurs wherever her majesty's sister goes. This is, in itself, perhaps worth attending.

If you have any suggestions for related events, small stories involving the Summer Sun Celebration, or ideas for entertainment, please do not hesitate to post them to this thread or page EconomistBrony or myself with them!

*Slathers herself in SPF 5000 tar in preparation for several minutes of direct sunlight.*

._.

[Derpy]

Derpy sprawls over a metal table at the Purple Wafer, a bowl of ice cream before her with sundry fruit sauces flowing in the cracks between scoops of vanilla and a rattly fan blowing from the back. She recalls her first Summer Sun Celebration.

"Was fourteen year. Mother still living! Daughter not yet. I was just finish school! Little diploma for little learning, and little flat hat for catching knowledge droplets." She pauses to feel her own mane. "Was no more school for me. Once? Maybe high schooling plan. Now? No more space in brain! Was ~all done~ learning." She sighs bittersweetly and takes a bite of her ice cream, savoring it.

A while later, she continues. "Is strange feel, not to learn anymore. Only walk in sun. Then crowd excite! 'Princess Celesti coming to Hoofington!' they say. Is Summer Celebration in Hoofington, first time in twenty-some year! I asked Mr. Magnum to show me where, and he show all the place. Flat dias... crowd limit... songing place... sun biscuits shopping. Even boughted me biscuit! Always friendsly with Mr. Magnum."

She pauses to drink some ice water and goes on. "Day before came! So many excite, I was thinking day had arrive! I flew to tell my mother, and she said: 'Not yet Bright Eyes. Is party all tonight, and then sun tomorrow. Must earn joy--is not given.'

"My mother always so wisdom. I went to bed and slept until moon. Then awake! Together with mother to town plaza, where all music and throwing things. So seldom with mother in town into deep night! But this night very deep. My eyes tired, and one mare painted black around, and blue. Drumming all everywhere. My mother taked me to old courtyard where empty building and moss, and my aunts and uncles! Even Cousin Derring! All my mother coven. They drew sun circle and flare, and pass-ed vessel. I drank vessel water! Then chant and deep song. 'Strong sun come from deep song,' my mother said.

"Finally, was collapse under ivy wall. Too tired to dance! Only play with ivy until gong. But when gong, then going! All pony in Hoofington walking to dias. There was bright, and in center of bright--Celestia!! Instead of crown? Tri-corner hat. I remember giggle! But then ceremony beganned, and giggle fell away.

"Still drums, but quiet and vibrate. Somewhere? Was tinglebell! And beside me, Aunt Heather, and my mother, and close by Mr. Magnum too. All smell of crowd and waiting. Then shine! Shine so bright that tremble knees. Then sun, and sky yellow! I sawed two legs raising to sky, and Aunt Heather said princess. I cheered out: 'Princess!!' And all around me ponies start to cheer: 'Princess, princess Celesti! We are loving you! We are love you!'"

Derpy sits in rememberance and takes a spoonful of lemon praline ice cream. "Later, was sun biscuit. And talking with mother in dream catching shop. I said my brain maybe ~not~ full. Had learn-ed more! Or maybe illusion? And mother? She said, 'Bright Eyes, ~always~ are learning. Cannot stop! Is constant chug of train.'

"If too many learn?" continues Derpy. "Maybe some fall out. But some thing, never fall. Sunshine. Wonder. Mother! And remembory. Even if no more school, will always learn. Even if not learn the best things, will still learning. And best things always stay."

The mailmare sits tall and raises her bowl of ice cream high between her forehooves, ready to clink it together with yours.