“Bright Light, could you take this letter to Swift Wind before your departure for today?” Celestia asked. A pony with a bright yellow coat and a azure mane looked up from her desk. She had just finished tidying it before heading for home.
“Sure thing.” She took the letter and placed it in her saddlebag.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t overwork yourself, princess.” Bright light said as she walked to the door.
“I won’t, my little pony. See you tomorrow.” Celestia responded with a smile. The pony smiled back and nodded, before walking out and closing the door behind her.
Celestia stopped her writing and stretched her stiff limbs. Sitting on one spot for hours on end writing and reading scrolls had a tendency to make Celestia feel like an old mare. Her back made an audible cracking noise as she continued her stretching, and she could feel a surge of warmth and coldness in her limbs as she stood up. Celestia suspected that she would have crumbled in to a pile of sore muscles many centuries ago if not for her alicorn physiology.
She finished writing the last few lines on the scroll, before deciding to call it for the day. She could work on the rest of the documents tomorrow, it wasn’t like they would go anywhere overnight (even if she hoped they would). There was one scroll, however, that she did want to look over again. Celestia smiled as she picked up a scroll from Twilight. It was the newest report about the strange being she and her friends had encountered recently.
Celestia blew out the candles in the room and allowed it to be engulfed in darkness. It was already very late, but that didn’t mean that the castle would go silent. She stepped out of her office, and it made her heart soar to see all the ponies walking about. With the return of her sister, the castle was truly always bustling with activity. Many ponies had chosen to take the night shift over the day shift, and work together with her sister instead. Even Canterlot itself was slowly adapting to the schedule, with many businesses offering their services during both day and night. Celestia walked along the hallway while reading the scroll that Twilight had send, greeting the ponies she occasionally came across.
“I can see where your student picked up some of her bad habits.” Came a voice from ahead of her. Celestia lifted her head from the scroll. A loving smile made its way on to her face.
“Luna, good evening.” She responded.
“Good evening to you too, sister.” Luna said and walked next to Celestia. They shared a hug before they continued to walk. “You seem to be deep in thought tonight.”
“Hmhmm.” Celestia hummed. “Twilight sent me a report on our mysterious guest.” A spark of interest flashed in Luna’s eyes.
“And what does it say?” She said with slight eagerness.
“The good citizens of Ponyville have named him Scruffy.” Celestia said, holding back her amusement when her sister’s face went completely neutral.
“…Scruffy?” She said in deadpan.
“Yes. The element of laughter wanted to throw him a welcoming party, and she needed a name for the banner.”
“I…they named a member of a species, that nopony has possibly ever seen before…Scruffy?”
“Apparently, the clothing he wore were old and almost falling apart. Perhaps that influenced her decision?”
“…” Luna tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind. Celestia allowed a small giggle to escape and gently bumped her hip against Luna’s.
“There’s more to her report than that, Lulu.”
“Yes…of course. Let’s hear it then.”
********************
“This is an interesting development.” Luna said after Celestia finished telling her what was in Twilight’s report. They were standing on a balcony that was overlooking Canterlot. “And you are sure that the device, and the creature carrying it, haven’t just come from lands outside of Equestria? A simple traveler, perhaps?” She asked her sister.
“The creature, perhaps. But his music device?” Celestia stayed silent for a moment, contemplating. “If it is from some other country, then I do not know which. If Twilight is correct, that the device doesn’t require any complex enchantments to function, it could have been made virtually anywhere. It could also be, that the spell work used in it were done so well, that it’s hard to notice it with a quick glance.”
“Or perhaps it doesn’t require magic at all.”
They both lapsed in to silence as they pondered this new revelation.
“That would make it the most advanced machine in Equestria.” Celestia said finally.
“How peculiar.”
“Luna, when you are dream walking tonight, could you check the Everfree forest? I want to know if there are more of these creatures living there. Scruffy can’t be the only member of his species, and if there is a group of them in the Everfree, then perhaps the device could have come from them.”
“That seems plausible. I will do so, sister.”
“Thank you.” Celestia said and yawned.
“You should get some rest. I’ll make sure to see to that undoubtedly enormous pile of paperwork you have on your desk while you slumber.”
“Thank you, Luna.”
“Sweet dreams…”
“…And pleasant days.”