Cramping fetlocks, a splitting migraine, aching eyes and a sore... Everything. That was what greeted the end of a workday for Mayor Mare; alongside the darkened outside of Princess Luna's night, having been raised over two hours ago by now.

Her hoof could find no other place to rest but the crook of her neck as she attempted to work out some of the tension that she had built up in her work, knowing well and good that her desk had already been covered with several layers of filled out and carefully organized piles of paperwork; alphabetized and numerically assigned by time in which they had been received, just as it should be.

In all honesty, Mayor Mare couldn't help but to feel this discomfort as necessary. "Otherwise, I wouldn't know if I was still awake or not."

Allowing a chuckle to escape her at the mental joke, which practically echoed through the long emptied out offices and paths of town hall, she pushed herself out of her seat with a groan.

To her, it felt as though every part of her body creaked and groaned as she placed her hooves on the floor, moving her head side to side before desperately stretching herself out to relieve at least a small amount of her soreness.

Once that was done, the elected official gave out a small yawn as she then glanced around the office for a familiar set of... "Ah, there we are!" She thought to herself grandly as she caught sight of the building keys, laid haphazardly atop a small cabinet she had near one of the room's adjacent walls, right next to her saddlebags; just where she had left them, as she does everyday.

The keys jingled against one another as she took one last glance around the office and put on her saddle bags, ensuring that there wasn't anything she may have forgotten.

As her mental checklist was soon finished, a deep exhale through her nose expressing her relief as she realized nothing to be missing or out of place, she then made her way out of the room.

With 'practiced grace'–which was not so much something that she wished to practice, so much as se was forced to in order to adapt– she moved the light switch of the room into the 'off' position with a quick flick of her tail, enveloping her in darkness and essentially blinding her.

Oh, right, she thought with a roll of her eyes; my office was the only one with its lights still on.

Brushing the matter aside, after a quick review of her mental checklist of course, Mayor Mare began to make her way through pitch black building, only sometimes broken by the occasional window as her legs, already well aware of where they would need to take her, followed an automatic path.

Left, left, right, left.

Sure enough, the calm light of the night sky began to leak meekly into the building through a different source; the cracks and underside of the front entrance to the town hall.

Readjusting the keys in her maw again, faintly tasting their metal as she did so, she grabbed hold of and pushed open the door.

For what must have been the first time since her workday had begun, she was able to breathe in a breath of fresh air; Cool and crisp from the late hour. Momentarily allowing herself to enjoy the cool breeze on her aching self, Mayor Mare took in a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second or so before then shortly opening them again, releasing her recently captured cloud of clean night air.

Shaking her head yet again, so as to make sure she wouldn't get too relaxed and fall asleep where she currently was, she sat herself on her haunches, turned back towards the door, and removed the keys from her maw using her hooves.

Mumbling to herself, she squinted her eyes as she looked for the appropriate key, her glasses providing little to no assistance to her in the dark setting that surrounded her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She, as well, felt as though she could fall over where she was and simply go to sleep, Cherilee's legs complaining against her with every step that she took, and her hooves practically screaming out to her.

Rubbing at her continually tiring eyes, the school teacher gave out a yawn as she went on her way down the roads of Ponyville, the closest thing to other sources of life–by which she meant as ponies that were still awake at this hour–being a single building with its second floor lights on.

"Then again... That's Sugarcube Corner." In all honesty, if Cherilee didn't see that the local town party pony, PinkiePie, was awake, then she'd think that something strange was happening.

Putting her attention away from the sweet shop and back ahead of her, she took notice of the ever-so-familiar surroundings that she recognized to be the path that led to her home.

As she went on, the temptation of losing consciousness and slipping into the world of dreams becoming more and more tempting, she caught sight of a figure in the distance, silhouetted by the night.

"Hm?"

Scrunching her eyes, she attempted to make out a few of this figure's features in the hopes of identifying him/her. That proved to be much more difficult than she had thought, even as she continued to walk in the same direction of the pony–her home was located just a ways further ahead of where the figure was.

Unable to see any distinguishing features of the far off pony, she instead settled on the idea of looking over her surroundings once more; at least until she came close enough to the pony to identify them.

She was, from what she could see, somewhere near the center of Ponyville. She could distinguish this from the park she could see further off to her left, its open and green fields still managing to make itself known at a time as late as this.

As for the figure, she could see with ease that he/she stood in front of town hall, seemingly busying themselves with the door.

For a moment, Cherilee worried that she was witnessing an attempted robbery, stalling in her steps before she continued onwards; after she closed in even further though, she quickly thought herself to be silly as she finally was able to take notice of the gray and tidy mane of an old friend, who was currently locking up the building for the night.

"Afternoon, Ms. Mayor." She greeted kindly, her target of conversation flinching at the sudden sound and giving out a small yelp of surprise as she dropped her keys onto the floor.

Cherilee barely withheld a giggle as she made her way next to Mayor Mare, picking up the keys from the floor and handing them off to the now smiling town official.

"Oh, haha," she laughed in earnest, disbelieving of the fact that she had been startled so easily, "hello Cherilee." She grabbed hold of her keys from the school teacher and placed them into her saddle bags, offering a thankful smile as she did so. "I take it you just got out of work as well?" She asked knowingly.

Cherilee of course nodded, now well in good spirits at the prospect of meeting with her old companion yet again. "Just finished the last of it a few minutes ago. It's always that last part that gets me though; I nearly fell asleep just on the way here."

A laugh escaped Mayor Mare as she heard what, in essence, was her exact same state and thoughts from Cherilee.

"Heh. Don't I know it." Turning herself around to now face the cerise mare, she adjusted her saddlebags once more before offering her a friendly smile.

"Shall we then?" She asked, gesturing to the path that led to their individual homes. Cherilee smiled in response, already beginning to take the lead as she walked towards the same general direction.

"Whatever you say, 'Madam Mayor'." She joked, the gray furred politician rolling her eyes and chuckling in response; she trailed shortly after Cherilee for a scant few moments before eventually pulling up slightly more ahead of her.

This had been a regular event for the two; meeting up after hours and just chatting on their way to their homes. They did not live very far from one another, after all, and it was a good opportunity for them to 'catch up', as it were, on lost times.

Chuckling heartily, the mayor of Ponyville turned her head to face Cherilee as she went on. "I've told you before Cherilee, you don't have to call me that; especially after hours."

A knowing smile responded to her statements. "I know, but it's always fun to tease you about it." Mayor Mare shook her head at her friend's words, a smile of her own on her face as she recalled this occasion with those of other days.

"So," she then began, trying her own hoof at starting up a conversation topic, "how have things been at work?" From the look that Cherilee gave, she instantly knew the answer.

"Oh, the usual. Late nights, constant work and responsibility... Same as it is for you, I'm guessing?" She nodded, humming slightly at her friends accuracy.

Then again–she thought–its not like we have many free days to talk about this.

Truthfully, were it not for the fact that Cherilee had the weekends off, Mayor Mare would dare to say that her friend was just as overworked as she was; more so in that Cherilee had to be in constant responsibility for so many fillies and colts, rather than Mayor Mare's responsibility over mature mares and stallions.

"Hm. Just about..." Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Mayor Mare suddenly recalled something that had come up during her work day. A certain letter/request that she had yet to answer; the same that had, in fact, been sent to Town Hall by the very friend she was talking to. "Oh, we just got that letter of yours at the office."

Cherilee's ears and eyes were now in full focus of her friend, losing focus on, essentially, every thing else that didn't matter at the moment. "Oh?" In all honesty, Cherilee had been waiting for this news. She, as she had described in her request letter, was in desperate need of a sort of... Role-model for the foals to look up to.

Especially considering the fact that, in the next few weeks, it's going to be the start of 'testing season', as she and other members of the board had nicknamed it. Her students could certainly use the motivation; just as she could, since she was the one who'd be up to her neck in papers to grade and the like.

It was a very bitter-sweet time for her.

"And, upon reviewing it, I'd say it has a very good chance of being accepted, both by me, and the other departments." Cherilee gave out a silent internal cheer at this news. "... However..." And just like that, she quickly ended it.

She very much hated it whenever her friend would add that word in after she ended a sentence; 'however'. It always meant that, if there was good news, there's to be some sort of catch. She couldn't blame her–mayor or otherwise, she had to confer with her other department fields as well–but she certainly could wish she'd be a little more straight forward in that regard.

Pursing her lips, Mayor Mare finished her statement with some hesitance to it. "It... May not be as simple as possible. After all, it's late in spring and, by now, tax season is just around the corner."

Ah, right, tax season.

She had practically forgotten about this little fact. Every year, be it by sheer coincidence, mistimed planning, or simply bad luck, tax season would just so happen to mix with Cherilee's test season. It was an odd, and very irritating, twist of fate in that regard. Her and her friend's busiest times of the years crumpled together to keep them both awake and occupied well into the night–possibly the morning as well.

It was the only 'season' that brought about issues for foals and adults at the same time. The only reason that several ponies dreaded the near end of spring.

"Oh..." She said dejectedly, her ears lowering themselves and posture changing to mirror her disappointment. "So, there's nothing you can do then?"

Noticing her friend's state, Mayor Mare felt a slight frown appear on her lips as she answered. "I'm afraid not. You know how it is with the other departments. 'Work before work'. Honestly, that doesn't even make sense!" Her eyes widening for a moment as she caught her sudden outburst, she cleared her throat before continuing in her more professional tone. "Anyways, when was it you would need somepony to come to your class, again? You didn't specify in the letter."

"Sometime starting next week."

Again, Mayor Mare felt her frown make itself even more apparent as she now tried to hide her expression from Cherilee. Next week would be packed for her and the others, and she knew it. She just didn't have the heart to tell this to her friend though.

"... Hey," Cherilee suddenly added, an ear twitching as she recalled the prominent subject of their last talk,–and the one before that, and the one before that. It had been a rather significant thing over the last week for them, really–"don't you have a new staff member coming in next week?"

Instantly, Mayor Mare's hidden away expression went through a complete 180 of its–now former–self. "Oooh, only two more days until I finally get my new assistant~!"

Despite her political role; her usually professional self; her sought about expectations; Mayor Mare's recognition of the fact had come out in a sort of sing-song tone. It was as if, for that moment, she was a foal in a pet store, watching as her parents picked out the one puppy that she had hoped and pleaded for... Metaphorically, of course.

Cherilee found herself cheering up as well as she caught this short glimpse of her friend acting as she used to, before the beginning of her political life. In fact, she could almost see her originally pink and frilly mane hidden under her friend's now tidy and gray dyed one.

"I can't wait! Finally, I won't have to constantly work until my hooves ache, and I'll have a good half of my work being taken care of. And by somepony–Er, someone who's more than capable!" Mayor Mare practically jittered at the thought of being able to get a healthy eight hours of sleep for once in so long.

"Good thing too. No offense, but I think you can use that break." She said this in good humor, of course, but as she looked at the bags that had long begun to form under her friend's eyes, only hidden away by the occasional touch-up, she knew that she was being brutally honest at the same time.

"Agreed... In fact... Who's to say we both can't have a bit of help?" Cherilee rose a curious brow at this as an idea came to Mayor Mare's mind.

"Hm?"

"Well," Mayor Mare explained, "while we are technically going to be busy down to the last of our staff... We may be able to squeeze in some spare time with our new work member's help."

Before she could react, or have even begun to continue any further, Mayor Mare found herself held in a tight grip by Cherilee's hooves; A broad, excited smile was apparent on the school teacher's face.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said excitedly, too far in her glee to notice that she had nearly knocked over her friend with the force and suddenness of her embrace.

A laugh escaped Mayor Mare as she gave one of Cherilee's forelegs a duo of light taps, silently asking for her to ease up, or release her. She still wanted to get some rest, after all; and, though she didn't mind the friendly display, the two weren't really making any progress this way.

"Alright, alright," she told Cherilee as she half-pried her off of her, a smile on her face the whole time, "don't forget, this isn't really one-hundred percent just yet. I still have to see how he does, then I'd have to pass the idea by everypony else, and even then I'd have to see if he would be okay with it himse-"

"Honestly, anything's better than nothing." Cherilee interrupted as she then took the lead instead, giving Mayor Mare a grateful smile on her way.

"Hm. I guess I can't argue with you there, now can I?" She knows by experience; When it comes down to it, Cherilee is always able to think of something in a positive note. Even if it's not certain.

"No." Mayor Mare could easily spy the corners of Cherilee's mouth hooking upwards from where she was.

"I thought no- Oh! Here we are." Turning her head to look to her friend as she stopped herself mid-step, she took note that she had no longer been walking as well, now looking towards her left.

Following her gaze, Cherilee very nearly let out a laugh as she caught sight of the quaint and cozy, gray and red home; She couldn't believe that, in their distraction, they had nearly passed completely by one of their stops. It wouldn't be the first time, but it was still rather amusing.

"Heh. Right. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then." As she again turned to her intended direction and began to move on, heading to her own home, she gave one last call to her old companion. "Goodnight Ivory," she wished to her friend loudly, this time using her real name, "thanks again!"

Giving her friend a short wave as she fished through her saddlebags for her house keys, she returned the 'good night' happily, before then turning her attention back to her current actions and mentally preparing herself for a nice sleep.

She got to go to work one hour later tomorrow, so that was something for her to be glad about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"... And so, in conclusion, while I appreciate that you think of me so highly, I am still very firm on my decision. If at any time you need confirmation of some sort of documentation, or the like, please feel free to send them to me through my new mailing address in Ponyville, as listed below... Hmmm."

Momentarily moving about the quill in his fingers as he finished re-reading the response letter he had written for one of his previous work associates at Las Pegasus, faintly noticing the small bumps that he would feel shake throughout his body from the train he rode on's trek over track, he couldn't help but to wonder if he was missing something.

That was something he certainly didn't want.

In his years of political and economic affairs, he had enough experience to know that, even in a casual response letter such as this one, it was best never to make even the slightest mistake, lest it be taken the wrong way.

One moment, one misplaced word or missing syllable could easily bring about an issue. Why else would this have been the fourth time that he had rewritten this letter, after all? It wasn't as if it took him long to do this.

A few short minutes and a relatively small amount of ink, since he would often stop himself mid-word whenever he found a mistake in his writing. That was all it took.

"Let's see," he mused, a part of him glad that the train car he was in was currently void of anyone , or anypony, else other than him, " 'Dear GoldenHoof, my professional and well-termed associate'... Tah, tah, tah... 'to me through my new mailing address in Ponyville, as listed below'..."

It was then that the man felt his eyes widen, a hearty laugh escaping him as he realized his obvious mistake. "I haven't put in the address yet, have I?" Chuckling as he quickly rectified this issue with a few strokes and scribbles of his quill, he found his gaze shifting to the window he sat next to in the train car, watching as the night sky flew calmly by, the stars, for the first time in a long time, now clearly visible as he realized just how far from urban life he now was.

In earnest, he couldn't be happier.

"Ponyville... Hm, I can't wait."

Author's Note

And there's the last of the introductory set, as I like to call it.

We'll get the man's name, and the first encounter, soon enough everyone. Until then, enjoy.