>You glare at the mare on the other side of your desk.
>She squirms in her chair.
>Good.
“So, Ms. Craft. I understand that some orders have sat tied up in the smithy, lately.”
>”Uh, yes ma’am, Ms. Inkwell.”
“It took me some time to track down, since the only lead I had contained nothing but an indication that His Highness was involved. However, no written record can escape my attention for long. I congratulate you, on that note, for having quite comprehensive records. Your doing, or your boss’s?”
>”The head smith doesn’t keep the records, ma’am. Thank you for the compliment.”
>You brighten considerably.
“My pleasure. Back to business. Has your boss told you why he wants Anonymous’ orders held?”
>The mare squirms some more. “No, ma’am. Nor has the Prince. I just know the order stands in perpetuity.”
“You speak quite frankly, for a mare who could land her boss in hot water.”
>She blanched, but continued. “Wasn’t right, how she treated Anonymous, ma’am. Even if she was right about stallions in general. You don’t speak to stallions that way, and his orders have never given us problems before, besides the tight tolerances he demands. If she’s going to get in trouble for that, then let her.”
“You and me, Ms. Craft, will do something about that.”
>The mare stares at you wide-eyed for several seconds, before giving a shallow and rapid nod.
“From this point on, I want all orders of Anonymous’s to be provided as soon as completed. If you stand the desk when he comes around, provide them immediately. If your boss does, and rebukes him, make the delivery yourself when you close up for the day.”
>”All respect, ma’am, but why?”
“Anonymous has shown me plans for a special project for Her Majesty, Princess Celestia herself. As Her Majesties’ chief aide, I will not tolerate any delays to it.”
>Well, you sneaked a peak at a sketch he made.
>Close enough.
>The mare gives you another shallow, rapid nod.
“Excellent. Do you have any questions?”
>”Yes’m. Why aren’t you talking to my boss about this?”
“Several reasons. First, because your boss works diligently and dutifully, for all her attitude. Among His Highness’s many flaws, fulfilling his obligations running the royal household does not number, and that includes staff selection and promotion. This means, however, we cannot question your boss’s loyalty, and as such, we must expect she will report any obstruction of the His Highness’s commands. I wish to avoid that. Should he make such a discovery, things will prove… troublesome.”
>”I can’t do this in secret forever, ma’am. He will find out, through her or not. As you say, he runs the household. You’ll have to answer to him for interfering.”
“Oh, my new friend, you misunderstand. If His Highness has any objections, and brings them to my attention, he must answer to me, not the other way around. That will inconvenience me little, end quite poorly for him, and I will have my way in the end anyhow.”
>The smithy mare is ghostly pale beneath her sandy-colored coat.
“I desire to avoid that. Unnecessary strife between the two halves of the palace, and their respective leaders. I suspect whatever problem His Highness has with Anonymous comes down to a matter of business between stallions, and we should handle it as such. To state it explicitly; work around it and give it as wide a berth as possible”
>The mare sighs in relief and nods. “Yeah, I know how colts can be. Understood, ma’am.”
“I only concern myself with seeing Anonymous’ work for Her Majesty completed in an expedited manner. I greatly appreciate your support in this endeavor.”
>”Yes’m.”
“Very good. I shall let you return to your duties. If any problems arise, please let me know immediately.”
>The mare stands from her chair and bows her head to you. “Thank you. Ms. Inkwell.”
>You return the gesture as best you can from behind your desk, and watch her as she leaves.
>What’s with everypony bowing to you, lately?

* * *

>Interruptions have a habit of multiplying.
>At least this time when Anon bursts into your office, he’s wearing proper footwear.
“Hello, Anonymous. What can I do for you?”
>He waves a small, shiny tablet around as he storms up to your desk.
>”Can I plug this into someone’s brain?”
>You blink several times in confusion.
“Elaborate?”
>”It’s got a camera, a microphone, a speaker. It can see, hear, and talk. Can I get it to do that for a pony?”
“I cannot think of a reason why you would want to.”
>”Come on, I’ve seen ponies with prosthetics before. So what if one goes blind, or deaf? Is there some way I can use this to let them see or hear?”
>You’re a glorified librarian and secretary. This is definitely not your forte.
“From my limited knowledge of magical theory, I do not see a reason why not.”
>He doesn’t seem satisfied with this answer.
“Her Serene Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle could better answer your question. I have done little studying on magecraft. Do you not normally work with her, at this hour?”
>”Do you belt out that whole title every time you talk about her?”
“I usually shorten it to ‘Her Highness’ after the first time, unless required by protocol. You have not answered my question.”
>He sighs and runs a hand through his mane. “Well, normally, yeah. But I can’t now. Something, uh, something has, er, come up.”
>You frown, then gesture to the seat in front of your desk.
“Please. I have some time.”
>He looks like he’s about to refuse, then sighs again and collapses into it. “Yeah, I was, until a few minutes ago. I kinda pushed her magical ability. She’s resting in my room, and I can’t do any work until she recovers.”
>Bullshit.
>Anon’s a poor liar.
>Not that calling him out on it will get you what you want to know.
>No use making the obviously troubled stallion defensive.
“You seem in a hurry. Can it not wait until she recovers?”
>”It’s, uh, well I want it to be a secret. I was going to, until...” He trails off, waving a hand in the air vaguely.
“Anon, before I can help you, I need you to speak with precision.”
>”I don’t know if she wants me to tell anyone.”
>Ah. That. You allow yourself the slightest of smiles.
>It seems Twilight can be decisive, when she wishes.
“I assure you, I take Her Highness’s confidence very seriously. If you decide it is not for me to hear, I will not complain. However, I promise nothing will leave this room without your or Her Highness’s consent."
>”She, uh, she admitted to me. Uh. Sorry. She, I guess, confessed?”
“Confessed what?”
>”That she was into me. I think.”
>He puts his head in his hands. “The fuck is even happening today. First Luna, and now this.”
>He looks up at you suddenly. “Shit, I didn’t say that. You didn’t hear that.”
“I will endeavor to un-hear that Her Majesty, Princess Luna also adds to your concerns.”
>“Yeah there you go with the titles again. Fucking royalty. Shit, I shouldn’t think about that right now.”
“Amusing. Anon, while very interesting, I do not see how this development is problematic. Might you not return her affections?”
>”I don’t even know. About either of them. You gotta understand, I wasn’t the most experienced in these matters, back home. I had a couple flings and that’s that. Hardly qualifies. Then Twilight’s bitching about goddamned timing and Luna’s going to kill me and eat my heart or something ‘aggressive’ and holy hell I’m just a lost human, how do I even respond to this?”
“Generally the mare initiates. If you speak truth, let them initiate.”
>”See, that’s backwards, back home. Which is part of my confusion here. Besides, Twilight’s bummed because she can’t, for some weird social reason to do with Luna.”
>Oh, the mare’s a sweetheart, tragically so. Can’t even upset the social hierarchy for love.
“Then I think you should let your heart guide you. Whatever happens, at least you can be content you never lied to yourself.”
>”That’s the best piece of useless advice I’ve ever heard.”
“I try to give advice excelling in all respects. Uselessness represents another category in which it can be superlative.”
>”You’d have me laughing if I wasn’t so fucking confused.”
“Yes, it is confusing.”
>He gives you a very strange look, before shaking his head. “I guess it can’t hurt to see what happens. I do really enjoy her company. She sounded pretty adamant that it wouldn’t work, probably because this weird waiting thing. Well, fuck that. I’ll do what I want, and if I find what I want is, I don’t know, her? Then I’ll do- wow this sounded a lot better in my head.”
“Your creative talent lies in artisanship, not poetry.”
>”Tell me something I don’t know.”
“If you insist. Her Highness convinces herself of silly notions time to time, about what she can and cannot do. I would trust how she says she feels over what she says is possible. Her Highness too often shackles herself to rationality, even if it seems rational only to Her Highness and none other.”
>He points a finger at you. “That… actually makes perfect sense. And you’re right, I didn’t know it. You’re good.”
“I try.”
>He stands up and turns to your door. “I know she’s going on a long trip in a couple days, maybe she can work things out for herself while she’s gone. We’ll see what happens after then. I think I just needed someone to talk to. Thanks.”
“Any time, Anon. My door remains open.”

* * *

>You’ve finished the day’s work, but remain seated at your desk.
>Anon’s timing was too poor, considering the predicament he found himself in.
>That means he likely slipped in his schedule, which meant…
>Your door opens slowly.
>Princess Celestia stands there, looking chagrined.
>You stand and bow your head.
“Your Majesty.”
>”Raven, I haven’t seen Anon all day. Do you know where he might be?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Anon had a critical issue he needed to attend to. I do not know how long it would take him to resolve it – this admittedly complicated issue seems to confuse him more than most – but I suspect that he may even now still work at it. It depends on what course of action he decided on.”
>She walked into your office and closed the door behind her. “You know how to say so little with so much. Where is he?”
>You walked over to the door yourself, and put a sound dampening barrier across that whole wall.
>As usual, for your Princess’s private audiences with you.
“His workshop, Your Majesty.”
>She sits in one of your chairs.
>You place yourself in one opposite her, and get comfortable.
>”Is something wrong up there?”
“If something has gone wrong, I expect Her Serene Highness is there to help him.”
>Celestia narrows her eyes. “And if she isn’t?”
“Then I fear his problem may become ours as well, soon enough.”
>”Ah, one of those. And if the Princess of Harmony cannot handle it herself...”
“One can assume the problem involves Her Highness in a disharmonious way, yes.”
>Celestia smiles. “My once-student has a habit of finding trouble for herself, doesn’t she?”
“Your Majesty, you had sent her away specifically to find trouble. We both know how eagerly she seeks to satisfy your expectations.”
>”Too true. It figures our eccentric emissary is making the trouble for her.”
“More than just Her Highness.”
>She tilts her head. “Oh?”
“Your Majesty wouldn’t be here if Your Majesty was not troubled.”
>She looks mildly offended, but she has a gleam in her eyes. “What if I wanted to relax?”
“Your trouble involves relaxation?”
>She laughs at this. “Yes, my dear friend. The past few days we’ve been retiring to our wing in the main library, instead of our private tower. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had someone to just relax with?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, considering you do so only with me, as now, or with your sister and her six occasional guests. I have the records for the latter's every visit, and the former I know personally, obviously.”
>”Well, he’s got me thinking back to when I was younger. You know, if I was now the pony I was then, I don’t think we’d have ever gotten along. I was a bit of a rebel, and wanted little to do with the trappings of power. And you’re so formal and regimented.” She laughs again.  “Can you imagine what we’d be like?”
>You bow your head to her.
“I consider fate most kind for ensuring our lives crossed only when we would be amenable.”
>”And if anypony heard you talk to me like that in private, instead of in court, they’d think us cold.”
“Force of habit.”
>”I know.”
>You two smile at each other, and just…
>Sit.
>This, you know, is the kind of friendship Celestia values.
>She has enough ponies she could talk to if she wants conversation. A true friend knows that sometimes words aren’t necessary. Sometimes simply being is enough.
>From what she’s said about Anon, you suspect this is how he found his way close to her, as well.
>You and he are as superficially opposed as you are secretly alike.
>You’re glad Celestia has more than just you, now.
“Your Majesty, Anon’s life may become quite convoluted, soon. In no small part due to fellow royals. You may want to take stock of what he means to you.”
>Her smile is more reserved, and a touch sad, this time. “I am content to wait and see, Raven. Patience is something I have in abundance.”
“Then, for my own curiosity, I shall rephrase it as a question. What does Anon mean to you?”
>She chews on this question a bit. “He doesn’t know what he wants, Raven. He’s still trying to figure everything out. Twilight’s swept up in his craft and nominally innocent mannerisms. My sister has found someone who knows even a sliver of what she’s gone through – and trust me, realizing that hurt me, a bit. These, I think, were inevitable. He’s a perfect storm of circumstances, aimed right at this very palace.”
“Your Majesty, only one pony has given me straightforward answers today, and she left my office many hours ago. What about you?”
>“I’m less interested in what he is, and more in what he can be, Raven. But, if you insist on a straightforward answer, I am interested.”
>You draw yourself up, at this.
“Interested beyond merely academic?”
>”He doesn’t treat me like a princess. Where he came from, princesses were irrelevant. Isn’t that fascinating? I’ve finally met someone who can see through that. The only other stallions who interact casually are my old friends, and none of that latter group is very compelling. Something about ancient familiarity makes for good friends and bad lovers. And I mean no offense to you of course, you’re overly respectful at all times. But you’re the only one that never bothers me from, because that’s who you genuinely are.”
“Then I am glad he came into Your Majesty’s life. Now two can treat you genuinely. But have you spoken to him about this?”
>”Oh absolutely. Do you know what he did?”
>You shake your head.
>”He’s the one who dragged me down to the library. Can you believe that? He told me what to do! Then when we get down there, he just goes back to books. He doesn’t even like reading, not like Twilight, he just does it because it’s something to do. I took a nap, right there in the private reading room. When his phone woke me up to attend our meeting, he’d hardly moved.”
“Fascinating.”
>”More than you could know. Don’t you see? He reads because he’s bored, Raven. But the books are enough. No, the books are just to fill the time. I am enough. Even if I were to disregard his presence completely – which I have done, many times, in that span during which he alone accompanies me – he remains by my side. Not out of respect, for he has little of that, but something deeper. He genuinely cares, Raven, and if I didn’t know where he came from better, I’d call it devotion.”
“If not that, then what?”
>She looks away from you, out the large window behind your desk. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”
>When she looks back, she has another of her gleams in her eyes. “And I intend to enjoy it.”