Celestia was having an incredibly dull day. She was currently looking over her desk which was almost bare for the first time in years. She moved the form she just finished to stare at the reason she had been so efficient lately. On the desk was Luna's written report on Draitha's memory from last night. It was a decidedly dark tale, and one that shed some light on Draitha's more aggressive actions. She stared at it with a frown. She had been thinking of her actions, and found them wanting. She had been almost rude, and simply walking into her barn without a word of warning. It had been a very poor choice. You were mad when she ran off, but after some time she realized that it was an issue of safety for Draitha. She was still annoyed that Draitha didn't find her country safe, but couldn't fault her after the memory she had seen. Celestia muttered darkly as she brushed the paper off her desk with a flick of her horn. She picked up the next piece of paper, which was a tax form.

She sighed and shuffled it into a small box with a moon stenciled on it. Celestia put the paper inside and watched as it was poofed away to Luna's desk. "Poor little Lulu, how can you love tax code so much that you request it?" Celestia started to smile as she moved around her desk. If she cleared her desk then there was only one cure. In the immortal vein of siblings she would go annoy her sister. She almost skipped through the castle, at least when she knew no pony was watching. She always thought it was important to keep up appearances after all.

She made it to her sisters room, and paused a moment. There were none of the normal mild signs that she and her sister used to show she wasn't to be disturbed, so she could exercise her sisterly right to bust through the door. She walked in without knocking. "Oh Lulu, how are we today?"

She was stopped by an empty room. Normally if Luna wasn't working she was doting on some project in her room. Celestia looked around and saw a half assembled tool, she walked up to it and sighed. The arcane battery Luna had made was still sparking, so obviously she had been here recently. Celestia sighed and decided the best back up plan available was to her was to bug her secretary. She teleported to her offices reception room, where Raven was graciously sitting at her desk. Celestia smiled. "Inkwell, help me please. I have done all my work and find myself bored."

Inkwell smiled at Celestia, and it had an edge. "Well princess, I can fix that. There has been an issue in the" She cleared her throat while holding up a paper. "Bombing stable."

Celestia smiled back. "Oh goody, has Dive Bomb done something stupid because of that dragon situation?"

inkell shook her head. "Nope, according to the rough report an unkown creature got the dragon to leave, watched Dive Bomb make a foal of himself, again, and then got taken to their post mission party."

Celestia froze. "By Faust, did the report mention a name?"

Inkwell nodded, and smiled. "Yes, Draitha appears to have been in the castle, though Luna has already gone to meet her. Apparently they put Draitha in their pit."

Celestia paled. "Oh my, please tell Luna to get me a full report as soon as she is able." Raven nodded and rose. "She has already put Draitha up in her guest room, and requested cookies there. I'll go tell her now, as well as give her an update on the snacks."

Inkwell moved towards the door, but a soft hoof from Celestia stopped her. "Raven, if Draitha pulls out a small tool against you, be very careful."

Inkwell paused. The last time Celestia had spoke like that was when Inkwell had to get between two bickering griffons. She nodded slowly. "Of course Princess."

Celestia watched as Inkwell trotted out, and sighed. "By Faust, this creature is somehow shortening my immortality simply by being here." She moved slowly back to her office, opening the door. A pony sat in front of her desk, juggling paperwork in wings not suited for the task. Celestia smiled. "Mane Moon, you know we have ponies you could send instead of trying to carry forms yourself?"

Mane dropped all his files while doing an odd dance. Celestia smiled as he attempted to bow, stand up straight, and pick up the files all at the same time. Celestia smiled wide. Such a warm-hearted display always brought out happy thoughts."Peace my most loyal subject." Celestia levitated up all the files. After glancing over them she nodded. "Ah the Lunar court has been accused of being a secret hideout again I see. And shockingly I see Bluebloods name at the top of the petitions."

Mane Moon looked up. "Yes your highness, I uhm, I tried to tell him that he was being foalish. Unfortunately. He simply called me a commoner. Then he said several unflattering things about... uhm... my service and stormed off."

Celestia sighed. "Kibitz, I know your here somewhere." After a small shuffling a grey maned unicorn who wore his age heavily walked out from behind a small desk. Celestia nodded. "Take note Kibitz. Blueblood shall be sent to ambassadorial duties to Yakyakistan until he has learned to treat workers with respect."

Kibitz pulled out a scroll, writing down all the details with a nod. "Indeed, and shall I withdraw him at the fifth apology?"

Celestia shook her head. "No" She said. "Make it the tenth. This is growing tiresome."

"Of course Celestia, and shall I instruct the guard to keep him under watch. We don't want a repeat of the griffon incident."

Celestia nodded. "Yes, I would like to avoid another stand off."

Kibitz made the notes and walked primly through the door. Celestia looked over at Moon Mane. "Now Moon Mane, is that all, or perhaps you would like to join me for some afternoon tea?"

Moon Mane flushed. "Of course your majesty, I shall prepare it immediately!" As he began to sprint out of the room Celestia's hoof stopped him.

"No, my little pony. I meant you and me, enjoying tea here. I normally enjoy it with Kibitz, but as he is indisposed you will now hold his job of being my dining partner." Moon Mane lost all color in his face.

"Princess, I am not worthy. You must dine with ponies befitting your-" Celestia's hoof softly tapped the pegasus on the snout.

"Moon Mane, calm yourself. I will enjoy my tea with you. I know you are fitting company. Luna herself stated you were a good pony who took the time to read her stories. Besides, I simply must actually meet the pony who seemed to actually enjoy my sister's crazed rambling. Please, sit here a moment." With that she trotted out of the room, leaving Moon Mane to his own devices.

Moon Mane glanced at the floor, unsure of what to do in the personal office of Princess Celestia. He was, in fact, terrified beyond rational thought. He was fairly certain he had left terror, and approached calm from the wrong way. He glanced around, noting a piece of paper with Luna's seal on it. He knew he shouldn't look at it, but Luna's sketch of the strange creature on it demanded his full attention.

He picked it up, glancing at it. It had a character sheet, in the same vein as her pre-story notes. She seemed to be a villain from the description, but there was a decided lack of the normal emotive language she used. He read the whole thing, trying to divine the character behind the words. Celestia walked back in, a tray of tea and cookies resting in her magic. She paused as she saw what Moon was reading. "Oh dear, you weren't supposed to read that."

Moon shrank back. "I'm so sorry princess. I simply saw what looked like a new character for Luna's writing and I read it. I didn't think she would mind."

Celestia smiled sadly. "It is not a writing aid, my dear Moon. That is her official report on a new visitor to our lands. Sit, we have much to discuss over tea." And talk they did. Celestia gave Moon a condensed version of the events over the past few days. The whole time stressing not to share it with the other ponies of Canterlot. For now Ponyville was gagged on the subject, but they could hardly silence all of Canterlot. She smiled and told him of Draitha's distrust of all, but her budding friendship with Luna. Eventually she settled. "Now Moon, once again. You must not tell others unless it is of the utmost importance. I know you'll do whatever it takes to keep Equestria safe."

Moon Mane nodded and began cleaning up their tea. "Of course Princess." He quickly packed everything into a small box and held it in a wing. With a final bow he turned to leave. "Whatever it takes."

Author's Note

Well, here's something to stave off inevitable boredom. Comments are loved and appreciated.