Suggestion: Yesharim (straight, virtuous people) will have both Simchah and light.

Rejection: If so, we would say that just like Yishrei Lev refers to what is earlier in the verse, similarly we will say that Tzadikim refers to what is later, since Tzadik is next to Yishrei Lev;

Surely there is a difference between them. If not, the verse should put them together - l'Tzadikim ul'Yishrei Lev Orah v'Simchah!

Distinction: This is unlike above. Kings and ministers were not written together. "Yir'u v'Kamu" is in between;

Just like Yir'u v'Kamu, which are before ministers, refers to kings written before, they apply to also ministers written afterwards;

Here, we explain only that light is sown for Tzadikim, and Simchah for Yesharim.

Explanation: We ask that the Mishnah connotes that even in the first three and second three fasts we take the Aron out to the city square and say 24 Berachos;

We ask a contradiction from a Beraisa that says that in the first and second [three fasts] we enter...

Explanation: We pray like we pray the entire year, i.e. we say 18 Berachos, like the entire year.

Question #1: Above (13b), we say that the only difference between the second three fasts and the first three, except that in these we pray and Melachah is permitted, and in these Melachah is forbidden;

Inference: They are the same regarding 24 Berachos. We say 24 Berachos both in the first and the middle [three fasts]!

Question #2: Above, we say "alternatively, I can say that they do not pray 24 Berachos in the middle [three fasts]. Why didn't we bring a support from [the Beraisa] here?

Answer: Here, "we pray like the entire year" does not refer to 24 Berachos. Rather, we pray like the entire year, and do not take the Aron out to the city square. (Tosfos retracts from explanation a:2.)

Explanation: Those ashes were from human bones. The ashes are a commemoration of the Akeidah, and the Akeidah was [human] bones.

Note: We say on 16a that they commemorate Yitzchak's ashes. Midrashim say that they are considered to be piled up on the Mizbe'ach. The Ya'avetz (here and 16a) asks where they will find such ashes. Would they burn human bones for this?! Rather, "Yitzchak's ashes" refers to ashes from wood. Yitzchak himself was not burned, but the wood he carried was burned!