"Hey, Ruby! Are you ready to go?!"
Ruby Pinch ignored the calls of Sparkler, her foalsitter whom she had recruited to go with her and grabbed a few books from her miniature library. At least two horror novels in case she got bored, can't forget that book about the specifics of supernatural phenomena, and of course, her very own copy of the legend of the Remnant.
She gave the book a little kiss before shouting down the stairs, "Just give me a second to check my equipment again and then we'll be off, Sparks!"
"Okay, but make it quick before I change my mind!"
Ruby slipped the four books into one of her two saddlebags, the other holding her Supernatural Kit. Magnifying glass (because what self-respecting scientist doesn't have a magnifying glass), foal's powder (for making a protective circle), a few iron charms (to ward off ghosts), a Royal Guard knife (just in case), a camera (for taking pictures of her findings), her notebook and a few spare pens (again, what self-respecting scientist didn't have a notebook and spare pens), baked cheese crackers (because one got hungry), and bottled water (and one got thirsty).
Satisfied with her inventory, Ruby slung one of the charms around her neck, pulled on her lab coat, shoved her reading glasses onto her face, and clattered down the stairs with her saddlebags packed. She headed out the back door and gave Sparkler a charm without stopping, Sparkler accepting it without a word. She had been on enough of Ruby's expeditions to know that iron charms were a must.
"So, what are we doing again?" Sparkler asked as she followed Ruby Pinch down the winding dirt path that led to the Everfree Forest.
"We're seeing if we can find the Remnant, supposedly located in the Castle Of The Two Sisters and rumored to be a fragment of Nightmare Moon's power." Ruby recited from memory as she took out the legend and leafed through its pages.
"And why is a young foal who's barely beginning to develop her magic searching for a fragment of Nightmare Moon's power? Even one who wants to be a supernatural scientist in the future?"
"That's why I brought you along, Sparks. You can do a bunch of cool offensive magic and protect us." Ruby put away the legend and got out her notebook, opening to a new page and scribbling something in it.
"Your mom's going to kill me if she knows we're doing this."
Sparkler, ever a skeptic. "Sparkler, would you rather be out collecting candy? Or contributing to the obscure field of supernatural science?!"
"Getting candy, because then I wouldn't be risking my life, as well as obtaining free food."
"But this is so much more interesting!" Ruby's steps became more calculated as more forest debris began to litter the path.
"Rubes, I think you have a problem. You're addicted to all this horror stuff."
Ruby sighed. "The greatest scientists of past decades started out just like me, Sparkler. Nearly friendless but for those who believed in them, and unfairly persecuted. Someday soon, I'll be your boss."
"So I'm unfairly persecuting you now?" Sparkler began to take care to keep up with Ruby as they went deeper into the forest.
"Continue down this path and you might start. Look up there!""
Ruby yanked Sparkler over to where she was and waved her hoof wildly. Sparkler peered through a gap in the endless vegetation and saw a stone spire piercing the canopy of trees. "We're almost there!"
Ruby squealed and jumped up and down for a moment before setting off again at a brisk trot. "Come on, Sparks!"
Sparkler sighed. "She's going to get herself killed one day."