Celestia and Anon part 3

>Well, that was a waste of time.

 

Celestia restacked the papers spread over her desk and took a sip of fragrant tea. The desk, like most of the furniture in her private study, was ancient. At least that's what anyone other than Celestia would tell you. Gilded and lacquered wood filled her quarters, gifts from long forgotten nations that now fly an Equestrian banner. A low fire crackled in one corner of the room, quietly dismissing the cold seeping through the window. The stars, barely visible in the sky, watched Celestia as she contemplated the writing.

 

>We must have been incredibly lucky to understand each other in the first place.

>I suppose it would be too much to ask to have the same written language.

 

The sheets were filled with the scratchings from Anon's quill. The writing looked like it would be legible, but Celestia still couldn't understand a single symbol. Even her intellect was not so great as to be able to decipher it without some frame of reference.

 

>And even then, why spend time learning to read this?

>I can get the information straight from the source.

 

Celestia called out and an aide entered the room. Even here, she was never truly alone.

"Bring Anon to my chambers, please."

"Very good, your highness. What should I say is the purpose of this summons?"

"I just wish to speak with him."

"Of course." the aide said with a bow. Celestia closed the door as he trotted down the hallway.

 

The princess readied the room for Anon's arrival. She placed the papers on a low table and a lamp to read by. Steam rose from a fresh pot of tea as she sat opposite the prepared place.

 

>Oh, I nearly forgot!

 

A faint glow of magic lifted her tiara from the mantelpiece and placed it atop her head. As it settled into her flowing mane, there was a knock at the door.

"Come!"

 

 

"You wanted to see me, Celestia?

"Yes, Anon. Please take a seat. Would you like tea?"

Anon sat on the velvet cushion in front of his essay.

"As long as it won't put me to sleep."

"Nothing like that." Celestia said as she poured two cups. "You wouldn't be useful to me asleep. Do you know why I called you here?"

Anon glanced at his writing. "You needed a bedtime story?"

"Something like that." Celestia said with a smirk. "You probably realise by now that we have very different writing systems. Something I should have thought of earlier. And obviously, we don't have anyone else to to translate, so yes. You will have to read to me."

"Well, I hope you're comfortable." Anon took a sip of tea. "This could take a while." He picked up the paper, cleared his throat and began to read.

 

 

 

"The world I come from is filled with people like me. Seven billion of them."

Celestia's eyes widened at the idea. "Billion?"

Anon peered over the paper at her. "Yes, billion. Can I continue?" Celestia nodded and Anon turned his attention back to the paper. "My world was a dangerous place for us. Humans are comparatively weak. But what we lack in teeth and claws, we more than make up for in ingenuity. Our intelligence and tools have allowed us to tackle even the biggest foes, and win."

"Did you not try to reason with them?"

"We couldn't. Humans are the only creatures with language."

"How could that come to be?"

Anon set the papers back down onto the table. "Well, we were the first that I know of. Once we figured language out, we spread pretty rapidly and-"

"How long ago did this happen?"

"I don't know exactly. Tens of thousands of years ago."

Celestia's face lit up. "And you've been alive all this time?"

"No! Oh, no," Anon laughed, "nothing like that. We only live about seventy-five years. Some make it past a hundred, but they're few and far between."

Celestia's face fell slightly before turning inquisitive. "So you read these people's accounts? Their journals?"

"No, our first written language was only about four-thousand years ago. We worked it out from looking at old bones."

"That's incredible!"

"It's what humans do. We look, think and draw conclusions. Anyway, there may have been other species, with the potential for language, but apparently we won at evolution."

"Evolution? What's that?"

Anon glanced at his empty cup. "How much tea do you have?"

 

 

Celestia listened intently for hours as Anon explained the history and way of his world. The differences were fascinating, but the similarities were more so. The machines that they used in place of magic were particularly interesting. Some things dismayed her. The lack of respect for nature, and the brutal efficiency of human warfare. However, Anon was surprised by her reaction to of humans eating meat. "I've seen enough to know that different creatures have different needs. I wouldn't mention it to anyone else though." When he went on to describe great works of charity, art and medicine, she marvelled at the human capacity for kindness.

 

Eventually, there was another knock at the door. Before Celestia could answer, Luna walked in.

"Sister, you're late. Cocks are crowing but the dawn has not come you need to-" her breath caught as she noticed Anon. "What's he doing here?"

Celestia stood and straightened her jewels. "He was telling me about his world. Did you know they have automatic carts? They don't have magic, so they use some sort of explosive liquid to make them go."

"You were dong that here? Alone?" Luna was furious. "Have you lost your mind? I should have at least been with you."

"Relax, Luna. He's no threat. In fact, he was telling me just how peaceful all humans are." Celestia Winked at Anon. "But you're right. The sun needs raising. I look forward to continuing this later, Anon."

"Maybe next time you can tell me something about Equestria and yourself next time."

"Perhaps..." Celestia giggled. Luna glared at Anon, who shrugged back.

 

 

 

As Celestia left, Luna's face softened. She sat next to Anon.

"Anon, please be careful with my sister."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're something new. She's not seen anything new for a very long time. She's letting her guard down. Equestria is deeply tied to her, and I don't want the realm to falter because of you. Besides," Luna said as she stood and walked to the door, "she's suffered enough."

"Wait, are you saying she's..."

Luna stopped at the door and turned to face Anon. "Just don't do anything stupid."