Notes on another world - Day 12
So I've had to expand my clasification of ponies. In addition to the standard Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn ponies there are also Thestrals who are sometimes called dark pegasi or "bat-ponies" though I've been told that phrase is derogatory. I've also been told there is a Crystal class that can encompass pegasi and unicorns, but that it would require a very long trip to see.
I've also had to reassess my opinion on the political jumpers. Forty-seven boxes of paperwork arrived for me last night, none weighing less than fifty pounds. I've had to give up a good portion of my domicile to the boxes while I sort through the forms. If possible I'd like to get a set of filing cabinets to replace the boxes.
Dusk Shine has been compiling books of law for me to review so I can correctly fill out all the forms. While I appreciate the effort, he already has a stack of books four feet tall and he hasn't stopped pulling from the shelves yet. Prince Solaris has also sent a Thestral courier to help carry documents back and forth from the capital city of Canterlot. Unfortunately for me, this pony, Nocturne, is a bit of a fangirl.
I looked up from my journal at the thestral mare standing in the corner. She was standing at attention the way a soldier might. She'd been standing like that since we'd gotten back from the train station the night before. I was half convinced she'd slept standing at attention last night.
"Um," I said and she started like I'd surprised her. "You don't have to be on guard all the time you know. You can relax."
"I- I know that." She said defensively, failing to relax at all.
"Everyone else has gone out to lunch. Barb and Dusk won't be back for another hour at least. You can relax."
Nocturne seemed uncertian. "But."
"But?"
"But I'm in Dusk Shine's house." She said, starting to shake with excitement. "I mean, Dusk Shine! I'm in his house! I'm in his house!"
"Are, are you alright?" I asked, concerned as she became more agitated.
"I mean I'm IN HIS HOUSE! DUSK SHINE! HERO OF EQUESTRIA! BEARER OF AN ELEMENT OF HARMONY! I AM IN HIS HOUSE!"
"CALM DOWN!" I yelled, grabbing the mare by her shoulders. "Calm down. He's just a pony, just like any other pony."
"But- but- but-"
"I know, I know. I've heard the stories too. Talking down a dragon. Confronting Eris the spirit of chaos and Anarchy Apollo, but trust me. He's just like any other pony in town."
"Just like any others?" Nocturne asked in a desperate tone. "But- but he-"
"Why are you freaking out? Do you want his autograph or-"
"He's the Prince's Personal Student! What if I accidentally- or if I don't- what if he- and I- and- and!-"
"Look, just relax a bit." I told her. "You really are working yourself in circles. Nothing bad is going to happen, okay?"
"I-"
"If you're worried about a bad impression, freaking out like this isn't going to help." I said. "Just take a few slow, deep breaths." She did so and began to calm a little. "Look, I'll fill out a couple of the simpler forms I can find, you can run them back to Canterlot and you don't have to come back for a couple of days. Plenty of time to work up to dealing with Dusk Shine." She seemed to calm down at that and even smiled a little.
"Then, when you come back, I can introduce you to all the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony!" I promised with a grin.
There was a weird little high pitched sound, almost like a wine.
"Nocturne?"
The mare stood perfectly still and held the stiff pose as she ever so slowly fell over.
"And that's when I tucked her into bed and came up here to shelve books." I said to Barb.
"Huh, I know Dusk and the others have done some pretty wild stuff, but I never really thought of them as national heroes." She handed me a book.
"Yeah well, you would think working for the Prince would expose her to tons of nobility. The thought that being in close proximity to Dusk, even with his status as a Bearer of an Element, would fluster her so seems odd."
"Well thestrals aren't all that common." Barb said. "I mean, I lived in Canterlot almost my whole life, and I never saw one until the Anarchy Afterdark celebration a short while ago. Even then, the two I saw were drawing Price Artemis's chariot."
I slid the last book back into place. "Well, maybe we can pull some books on them. A little research never hurt, and it'll break up the monotony of all those political books."
"Um, which political books?" Barb asked.
"What do you mean which?" I turned around waving a hand. "The huge stack over-"
The table was empty.
"Barb, did we just-"
"Hey, I've been dealing with the ones on the return cart." Barb threw up her claws in defense.
"Imp," I started, letting the frustration seep into my voice.
"YOU TOLD ME!" Imp cried out, flying up out of reach. "You told me EVERY book not shelved! I even had to figure out where some of the unmarked ones went."
"Unmarked books? There aren't any unmarked books!" Barb said. "Every library book has one of Dusk's sorting marks on it."
"Nuh uh!" Imp replied. "All those books in the kitchen were unmarked!"
"Those were the cook books!" Barb said, running off to one side of the library.
"And then there were the thin little graphic novels under your bed-"
"MY COMICS!" Barb tried to 180 on a carpet and crashed into a bookshelf, knocking a dozen books loose.
Imp let out a low whistle at the sight. "Think I should tell him about the journals?"
"IMP YOU TREACHEROUS LITTLE GREMLIN I WANT YOU TO PULL EVERY UNMARKED BOOK YOU PUT UP AND STACK IT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW!"
Nocturne rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. The ceiling wasn't familiar, but that wasn't unusual for a courier. She lay still and breathed slowly, remembering.
I'm still here. She thought. Still in Ponyville. She rolled over and looked at the door, sighing at the sight of it cracked open a bit. From the distance she could hear the sound of papers shuffling and pages turning.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. She thought, closing her eyes and sighing. It was supposed to be simple. Lie low, take a few jobs, see Equestria. Now I'm stuck in this back and forth. I get to stand before nobility and the Princes, or hang out with the bearers of the elements.
With a grunt she rolled over and pulled herself out of bed. I've just got to keep going. If I run off, everything is ruined.
But if they find out, I'm going to be royally screwed.