“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.”
Pretty solid logic if you ask me.
Oooh, Scruffy and Luna… maybe in dreams, they can converse?
Do us proud, Moonbutt!
7969591 There is a theory that dream walkers can breach the language barrier with the help of the dreamer's subconscious, also it doesn't hurt to have magic as the grease to make things turn.
Other creatures? Now that would be interesting. It would explain why he had two phones. He simply borrowed a friends so he could call his phone in order to locate it by the ringtone.
...Oh this is reminding me of that story...fuck I can't remember the name of it. But there was this novel where a small American town ended up being transported smack dab in the middle of Europe several hundred years in the past.
Wonder if that's what happened here, and there's actually a small community of humans trying to eke out a living in the hostile Everfree. Probably running on gas powered (or maybe bicycle powered?) backup generators which is how Scruffy is able to keep his phone charged.
"By which I mean I'll see that it gets reinforcements."
7969625 What, Luna doing pranks like that? Noooooooooooo.
7969607
The story you're thinking of is "1632". And it would be an interesting take. We've seen individuals-- even small groups of people-- transported to Equestria, but barring scifi first contact type stories I can't recall any stories dealing with an entire town magically finding itself there.
Found a istake
“Twilight send me a report on our mysterious guest.”
*sent
7969591 *excited horse noises, confusing dreams*
7969916 Twilight is still a unicorn in this one. We'll see about Equestria Girls once Twilight becomes an alicorn.
7969681
The only story I can think of was when Equestria itself (pre-expansion that is) gets transported onto Earth. It wasn't a conversion bureau story but more of a what-if as humans and ponies gawked at each other. The twist; "My Little Human, Technology is Magic" was a well known show in Equestria leaving both sides wondering how some cartoon became reality. Had some really fun moments such as flocks(?) of pegasi lounging on clouds to watch aircraft carriers and such patrol by them while the humans do the same-- as they come to grips with the fact that magic exists and is done by technicolored ponies. (Can't recall if Equestria was dropped into the Atlantic or Pacific side)
Back to this story, I'm not entirely certain that was a phone call but instead the clock app ringing. Either way, there's still the question of how the heck is that phone still working. And how long has he been in Equestria anyway? Ratty clothing would seem to indicate a long time, but he could also be using a portal without ever realizing it, traipsing back and forth between Earth and Equestria while just dressing like a bum. Remember the transition from closet to forest in the book, "The Witch and the Wardrobe"? If it was Earth forest to Everfree forest, you'd never know until you start noticing scary trees and sounds other than a few birds and insects. Could be a campsite, pickup-camper, or trailer home just an hour's walk away.
A more sobering thought is that's how he got here and now he can't find the way back, leaving him stranded in the forest until Fluttershy lured him out. Just another missing person on the side of a milk carton back on Earth.
I love reading all the theories in the comments here <3
7970331 I agree.
7970349 Who knows, I'm sure it will be answered at some point.
7970551 The ponies have enough to worry about his phone, we don't need them to go bonkers about him having no magic. I always think it's weird how everything in Equestria is supposed to be magical, from rocks to plants and the gosh darn air. I mean I kinda understand anything living might have some magic in it, but a rock? Or dirt? Seems kinda fishy to me.
7969681 the unity pact deals with the entirety of a college being dropped into Equestria.
Just the living bits though. Nothing inanimate comes with them.
There's another one where an entire human town and ponyville are dropped into a new world a short distance apart. Don't remember the name though.
7970717
I believe it is called Unity. it's one of my faves, I'll have look it up again to be sure.
7970807 to that's it. Cause I was reading that and the unity pact and kept thinking one was the other.
THAT IT?! whos distracting you and how would you like me to kill them?
What type of pony is Bright Light? Unicorn, earth, pegasus, bat? Robot?
7971173
Someone had the idea that magic (as a as a concept, acting like "the force" from starwars) kinda "didn't know what to do" with humans, so the human would influence the final outcome of what the magic that was directed at/on him did.
Essentially, if healing magic were being used on a cut, and the human is wanting/expecting the injury to be repaired, that's what happens.
But if a magical bolt were fired at the human to kill him, the human is hoping it will miss, so if it is fired along a path that intersects the human, the human's hope that it will pass by without causing harm tells the magic that it should pass through the human as if he/she weren't even there.
So that's what happens.
While the human(s) would have no magic of their own, whenever someone tried to use magic on the human, it would only work in a manner that coincides with they type of spell it is, and what the human is expecting. Like the magic is "the new guy at work" who is just following the example of his more experienced co-workers.
IE:
A fire ball spell is meant by it's caster to burn the human to death.
But the human is feeling a little cold, and because the vague intent of imparting heat does coincide between the spell purpose and the human's will, magic (as a force) "follows the human's lead" and slowly consumes the spell's energy over a period of time to heat the human and maintain a comfortable temperature while said human is cold.
Or, a levitation spell is used to lift and hurl a boulder at a human. The human sees the glowing boulder and thinks "Cool, anti-gravity! It's as if it's light as a feather." And the spell causes the boulder to act accordingly, allowing the human grabs it out of the air like an oversized dodge-ball made out of ultra-lightweight styrofoam.
I always thought that was an interesting idea, because it really fits the human aspect of adaptability, and it also fits in with the 'Humans are more "real" than the pony universe' idea.
7971154
*pokes Bright Light with a sharp stick*
"Oww! I'll get you for that human!"
*Hatter makes a purely manly sound and runs down the hallway*
7971154 She's the annoying kind, like gender neutral people. You can't tell just by looking, and you don't want to ask and sound like an idiot or be rude accidentally.
7970988 I believe they are called The Video Game Industry. Really annoying guys they are, with their fancy graphics and pretty lights.
Wonder if she is going to find anything.
Dreamwalking the Everfree. What could possibly go wrong?
i was waiting for a pokemon joke
Luna go dreamwalk and get me another chapter
7975298 That is the unfortunate result of not really knowing what you are talking about, but trying anyway. I tried to do a bit of research, but clearly it wasn't enough. I should have totally named him river pony.
7975832 coughcoughmaybecoughcough
7976301 You aren't the only one, apparently
7977585 Yay
Argh!!!
Im so hyped for the proceedings of this story!!!
MOAR Goddamnit...
Sorry... Pls?
7977898
… Pardon?
7978126 the plural of pegasus is ...nevermind i was rong. The plural of pegasus is pegasi pe-ga-se.
I apolojies i had it confused with somthing els.
Well, it's at least good to see that neither of the alicorn sisters will do anything drastic... yet.
And indeed, the most advanced machine in Equestria. Oh if only they knew what we know; that in the world he comes from, the phone is far, FAR from the most advanced piece of technology
Meanwhile in the Everfree the Planet Express Crew are looking for there lost, and lazy janitor.
That thing is just a mere gadget. Wait till you see his 'machine'.
8045397 giggity!
So what actually makes twilight to send a report to celestia in the first place ?
8199100
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
.............................................. I got nothing the story is just that good
error:
"and work with together with her sister"
You know, normally it’s anoying when there’s more than one human, but right now? Im kinda hoping he’s a grandpa or something, and his family’s deep in the everfree in a cottage. It’d be really cool to see the family interact with the ponies.
I like the little ritual they have
Wait... is this set before or after equestrian girls?
🐉❤