The Mailbox: Reloaded

Chapters

Week One (Part One)
Week One (Part Two)
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
Our Cast

Week One (Part One)

May 19th

Dear Twilight,

I need to head out to Luna Pier soon, but I wanted to write to you first thing in the morning. I gotta say, you staying in Cloudsdale is pretty sweet, if you ask me. I bet the place hasn’t changed a bit from... actually, I was there like a month ago to talk to my supervisor from the Equestrian Weather Authority, but it’s been so long since I’ve lived there and did my thing, you know?

Well, still, if I know anything, it’s Cloudsdale, so here are some pointers to get you started:

Best place to work out is Hurricane’s Arena downtown on Stratus St. It’s got some older equipment, but it’s the kind of environment that just gets you pumped to work out, you know? ...Oh wait, I forgot I was writing to Princess Egghead, who’s probably never hit the gym in her life. Well, it’s not too late to start, Twilight. You’ve got a girlfriend now, so maybe it’d be good to keep yourself hot. For you, I’d recommend squats; they do wonders for your butt, and confidentially, before you two started dating, Applejack told me she thought yours was really nice.

And I just know you’re a good enough friend to keep that information between the two of us, because if AJ knew I told you this, I’d lose a couple teeth (the weather team does not have dental, Twi, I can’t afford losing my pearlies).

DO NOT, under any circumstances, try the fried pickles at Contour's Cavern. The rest of the food and drinks are okay enough, but the fried pickles will destroy your insides and force them out of your body. If you hate yourself and put them in you anyway, just make sure you have someone to follow you to the bathroom and hold your mane.
Never walk on Rainbow Avenue after dark without a friend. There’s a gang that hangs out there, and they’re up to no good. They’ll creep up to you and they’ll start snapping, and then, they dance! And it’s all finely choreographed, too, and when you think the worst is over, they start SINGING–oh, Twi, it’s just terrible! It’s a hellish abyss I wish on nopony.

By the way, thanks for that word-a-day calendar you gave me last Hearth’s Warming. I thought it was pretty lame at first, but I must say, as a word, ‘abyss’ is pretty friggin metal.

But yeah, I’m hoping my dad doesn’t make me stay too long in Luna Pier, because first things first, I wanna come up there and see you, maybe see if I can help you out. I know about what you’re doing up there, and I gotta say, it’s not gonna be easy, Twilight.

When you’re a kid growing up in Cloudsdale, you’re kind of raised from birth to not like griffons. My dad was more progressive, so I didn’t really learn it in the house, but the culture is still there, and you can’t escape it. Racism is pretty casual in that town, and I practically got a whole dictionary of slurs just from my old high school hoofball coach. No joke, I thought the first griffon I saw was gonna have its way with me before swallowing me whole. That’s the kind of junk that gets passed around and learned from the playgrounds to the offices.

Of course, I learned it was all baloney, and my first relationship actually was with a griffon... well, actually, a hoof-full of griffons, it was kind of a ‘let’s all screw together kinda thing’, and then I met Gilda and... yeah, I wasn’t the smartest teenager, if you couldn’t tell already.

But all that said, I know you can do this, Twi. I’ve seen you tackle a lot worse than making griffons and pegasi get along. You’ve got this awesome determination that I rarely see in other ponies. I mean, you and Tirek were firing friggin’ laser cannons at each other, it was insane! But you didn’t back down from it.

And aside from that, you’re so smart, I bet you’ll have the issues between the tribes fixed in a snap. You’ve used your brains to get us out of jams so many times, I can’t honestly keep count anymore, and it never even shocks me anymore when it happens.

But hey, I don’t just wanna see you to talk about boring tribal relations. I wanna tear it up! There’s this club, Prism, down the street from that gym I was talking about and it’s a total blast. Some of my wildest memories are from weekends spent in that club. All a kid needed was a fake ID and zero inhibitions, especially if you were awesome and hot like yours truly (though, nowadays, that might not really be my crowd anymore). I bet now, with you as a princess, we can get in the front of the line, with a lounge, bottle service and everything! It’ll be great! Woo, royalty!

But hey, if clubbing’s not your thing (and I don’t care if it isn’t, we’re going no matter what), I also wanna take you to Spiral’s Deli.

Best. Sandwiches. In. Equestria. I will never hear otherwise, Twilight. Never.

But hey, I’ll have time to show you the best parts of Cloudsdale later. I better make my way out to see my dad. Remember what I said, and good luck, Twi.

Catch you later,
Dash.

P.S.: If you do decide to check out Spiral’s before I get there, try the HBLT. It’s like if awesomeness was put in a sandwich recipe book, or something.

~~Hello Appl~~

~~Dearest~~

~~Good day Applejack!~~

Dear Applejack,

I hope you can read this, I’m so nervous I can feel my hooves shaking. I’m trying to sleep on the train like Twilight said, but every time I close my eyes I think I’m back in Ponyville! I know it’s silly, but then I think I missed the train, or I wasn’t there to say goodbye, and my tummy gets so tied up.

I know we were going to write our letters when our vacations started, but I needed something to do. My hooves won’t stop moving so I thought I’d put them to use.

I think that’s enough about me though, how are you? Is your back doing okay? Getting plenty of bed rest and fluids? I hope this letter gets to you after you make it to Canterlot, what if the mail pony takes it to you as soon as I drop it off? If that’s the case, you can wait before you reply to me, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine too.

I think Canterlot will be good for you. The staff in the castle is top notch, and I’ve read that the best doctors in Equestria are trained there. Healing is 99% up to you though! You have to take the medicine and take it easy, and I know that’s hard for you. I don’t think you have a reason to worry, Big Macintosh is strong enough to handle the fields, and Apple Bloom is getting to the age where her hind muscles are prepared for excess muscle growth with risking damage to her body in the future. With you and Big Macintosh as examples, I bet she’ll be the best bucker Sweet Apple Acres will ever have! ~~(I mean as an apple bucker, I didn’t~~

I think I see Baltimare in the distance so I’ll wrap up the letter.

The recovery period is the hardest, but it’ll be worth it when you can go back to running and apple bucking without thinking about your back all day. Some low-stress activities shouldn’t cause you too much of a problem, but be mindful of how you sit, and keep somepony close in case you feel pains. Don’t worry about ponies worrying that you’re not high-class, you’re one of the best ponies out there. I know you’ll make a good name for yourself while you’re on vacation!

~~Break a leg out there~~ OH MY GOSH I’M SO SORRY!!!

Really REALLY sorry,
Fluttershy

Hi Rarity!

I hope my writing’s neat enough for ya. I know you don’t like scruffy scribbles, so I’m taking extra care when writing your letters. Which is good ‘cause it gives me more time to think about what I’m actually writing.

Aaaanyways, I hope you’ve figured out something to do for the summer. It’d be a crime if you just stayed in Ponyville all the time! Not that Ponyville’s bad, I love it ‘n’ all, but summer is the chance to try new things, y’know?

Well if you’re still stuck, just say so and Auntie Pinkie here will be happy to help! I’ve just got a chock ton of ideas in my head that could help ya, or you can bounce ideas off me if you want. I’ll be your ideas trampoline, how does that sound?

Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? Grr, I said to myself I wouldn’t. This writing thing is harder than it looks. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon, it’s just that there isn’t anypony around to tell me to slow down.

Right, mooooving on! If I somehow can’t help you, though, you can help me! You know how I’m going to Manehattan for the culture parade, right? Thing is, I’m actually going a bit early. I wanna see if there’s a chance I can make my own float and join in. And as much as I can build super cool things sometimes, I could really use your advice. Having some of that Rare flair would really raise a hair! Or two, hehe.

Oh yeah! Speaking of Manehattan, how’s Coco? You’ve been keeping in touch, right? ‘Cause I could easily go in and check on her, if ya want me to. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to her last time, but she seemed real nice.

I’m on the train right now, so I’ll be in Manehattan by the end of the day. If not earlier! Feels like fooooorever though. Train rides are boring without your friends. So hopefully I can meet some nice ponies on my trip. Seriously, you have no idea how long I’ve been saving up for this. Hotels are expensive. I just hope it’ll be worth it. It probably will be though.

Ooo! Food cart’s here! Okay, I’m gonna have to end this letter now, but you write back real soon, ‘kay? ‘Kay. Looking forward to it!

Your best buddy,
Pinkie

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m sitting at the docks in Horseshoe Bay right now waiting for the boat to Cayune. I didn’t get any sleep on the train here, but I feel wide awake. Or maybe I’m in shock, I can’t tell. If I am, there’s a cute stallion waxing a boat’s hull nearby, maybe he knows CPR? That’s just wishful thinking, but the last hour has been so stressful!

I wish the ship would get here faster, it’s like ripping off a band-aid, the faster you do it the better, only without the weird taste of adhesive glue in your mouth. If I could fly like you can, I’d probably be there by now, but not all of us train like you do. I’m jealous, but it’s either training to fly or tending to the animals, and you know which one I prefer.

I think you’ll like Luna Pier, even if it’s kind of quiet. We used to visit my great grandma there when I still lived with my parents, the sky’s really quiet but the ground’s also kind of really quiet now that I think about it. Still, you and Buck should spend some time at the pier! The birds around there are some of the sweetest I’ve ever met, and they even give you free crumbs to feed them. Hankey’s Biz also sells some really tasty funnel cake, and the honey is complimentary (but the sugar is artificial).

I nearly forgot, take as many photos as you can! I miss Buck, and want at least one picture of you and him to keep around the house. I think he’d be proud I finally got my own home and am taking care of the forest animals, he always said I was the best pony to go to for animal care.

Oh, and if you see my mom or dad, tell them I said hi.

Have a fun summer Rainbow Dash, I already can’t wait to see you at the end of it!

With love,
Fluttershy

Hiya Twilight!

I’m finally in Manehattan after a looooooooong train trip. It was so boring, I nearly fell asleep a few times, and sleeping this early into my holiday just wouldn’t do! My hotel room here is pretty cushty, with a big bed, a shower all to myself and, best of all, free soap! I love that it’s on the house (or should that be hotel?), ‘cause it makes you feel real welcome.

So y’know that culture parade I told ya about? Well, I’ve shown up a bit early. Like, a ‘few days early’ early. I’m gonna give myself a chance to do some sightseeing (there wasn’t nearly enough time when we went with Rarity) and try to see if I can get my own float in there! I just dunno what to make it about yet. Maybe one with you and everypony else?

That might work... aren’t we supposed spread the magic of friendship now? Is that our jobs now? Does this mean I’ve got a rank now? Am I a mini-Princess? And how often do we have to spread the word anyways? I don’t really know anything. It’s not like the treecastle came with a manual or anything.

Wow… that was a lot of questions. And I don’t wanna scribble them out either or that’ll look icky. I guess that’s what big changes do to ya, right? Change is kinda funny that way. But yeah, if you want me to do anything for ya, then just ask away!

So you’re in Cloudsdale, right? Remember: don’t taste the rainbow. That’s some freaky stuff right there. I don’t care how bored you get, just don’t. ‘Kay?

I wonder what the griffons are gonna be like. Imagine if it was Gilda! That’d sure be awkwaaaaard. Just in case it somehow is Gilda, we should give her a second chance. If Discord can deserve one…

Anyways, I’m super excited to be travelling up, down and around Equestria! You will not believe how long I’ve saved up for this. Hotels ain’t cheap. Well, the good ones aren’t anyways. I don’t exactly wanna be sleeping in cockroach town. But maybe I can pass by Cloudsdale and give you a visit! I bet I can totally stroll by the guards real easy now. Not like last time at the Equestria Games. I can’t believe security almost threw me out ‘cause I wanted to sit next to you and the other Princesses!

Riiiight… I think that’s about it for this letter—no, wait! Books. If you need more books because of… y’know… just ask. ‘Cause I’m probably gonna be passing by a lot of bookstores. And I know that you’re gonna say “You don’t have to, Pinkie, really,” but it was worth asking.

Okay! Looking forward to your reply! Bye!

Your pink pal,
Pinkie Pie

P.S. Make sure you write to Applejack lots and lots! Like, double the amount of times you’ll write to me. She’s probably gonna feel worse than the time Dashie got stuck in hospital, and we all know how well that went.

Dear AJ,

Sucks about your back. It’s a shame you didn’t go high school with me. On the hoofball team, if you got injured, coach would give you all the painkillers you could ask for. It’s the same stuff my dad took when he played in the arena league. You take enough, and you feel like you could take on a horde of minotaurs.

Of course, it’s probably good that you’re recovering now instead of after something really serious. Take it from me, AJ, it blows chunks to not be able to work out or do anything awesome, but trust me, it’s worth it to suffer and come back stronger and more primed to strut your stuff.

And hey, at least you’ve got some swanky digs at the castle. Glass half full, amirite?

...Oh, who am I kidding? You’re gonna find a way to complain about this, I just know it. ‘Ah don’t thank wurr in Ponayville no more, Winona.’ I get what you’re about.

But anyway, Luna Pier... I’m not really digging it, so far. I’ve been here only a few hours, and there’s... nothing. Like, there’s a giant lake that looks pretty cool, and my dad’s house is right on the lakeside, but the town itself? It’s like it’s crying for a Pinkie Pie party or something, because it’s lifeless. Although, my dad probably moved here because it’s quiet.

Speaking of my dad... he seems off. Like, I know he’s getting older and stuff, but he just seemed almost as dead as this town. First thing I do when I get there is help him out of his chair just so he can hug me, and then he has me walk with him to the corner store to get cigarettes, and then, when we get back, he’s apparently so worn-out, he has to take a nap.

He’s really not that old at all. He got my mom pregnant really young. Like, younger than you and me young.

I dunno, it’s bugging me. He had a lot more energy the last time I saw him. And now, I’m kind of annoyed, because now, I’m just sitting out here on the dock by the lake writing to you while my dad naps while I could be having an actual, fun summer.

Eh, it’s fine. I’ll get out of here in a few days or so and then have some real fun. I promised Twilight I’d come see her in Cloudsdale first, but I’ll make sure to swing by and visit you. I can teach you how to actually enjoy your swanky digs... ya dig?

I had to. I had to. Apologize? Nuts to you.

But anyway, about Twilight, I dunno how much she’s told you about what’s she’s gotta do up there in Cloudsdale, but it’s not a walk in the park. She’s going up against generations of hatred and fear to try and make two tribes get along. I know firsthoof what griffons and pegasi think of each other, and it’s not pretty.

I don’t know how serious you two are, but just know, she’ll probably need someone to hug her and stuff... you’ll mainly be hugging her in a metaphorical sense, but still, if you guys are forreal, you can get the job done. I know you, AJ. You do the whole sappy bit better than all of us.

Anyway, I’m getting pretty hungry, so I’m gonna go inside and see if my dad has any food that goes well with this soy jerky I bought. I gotta say, it’s kind of nice writing out here on this dock. Maybe there is something to this whole ‘quiet’ thing.

Remember what I said and keep me posted on your recovery,

Dash.

Dear Pinkie Pie,

I wish you were here right now to see the Griffin Kingdom personally, it’s absolutely amazing! I just got off the ship and I’m in a carriage with one of the safari guides. He’s a hippogriff - the result of a griffon and a pony - and he’s very knowledgable! He just finished telling me that he had been trailing an odd little creature to find its burrow when he remembered he had to meet me. What a gentleman! He missed researching a rare creature just to come meet me!

I hope we manage to find it while we’re exploring Griffalabella, I would love to see what a Snipe looks like. It sounds cute! I should have slept on the boat here so I could be awake for the rest of the night to help him find it, but even now my eyelids are getting heavy. We’re going to a hotel for the night before we start our safari tomorrow, and I’m worried I’ll be too excited to get to sleep.

Oh, but the kingdom! It has a lot of very tall towers, and there are only a few benches and roads on the ground. Since the griffons and hippogriffs fly, the towers have large wooden balconies with seating and open-air entrances for them to land in. At night, everything is lit up like fireflies, and the griffons dart in and out of sight going who knows where. The ground is nice and lit up too, I’m looking out the window right now and I may have spotted a sweets shop.

~*\*` Sorry about the ink stain, I was about to write when Fabian - the guide I’m with - started talking to me. We were talking about animals, and he’s so knowledgable! He asked me lots of questions too, which makes sense, I’m supposed to help study habitats and herding patterns with him. I think I surprised him with what I know, but he seems worried about letting me study up close with him and the others. He’s a real sweetheart, but I came here to watch animals, and I know how to handle an angry bear, I think I’ll be able to keep myself safe.

Griffon architecture uses a lot of towers and a lot of windows, I think they’re meant for quick escapes and lighting, but with so many lanterns outside, you’d think they’d have a few inside too. I think you would have a blast seeing all the sights, and I know you would throw the griffons the best party they’d ever had.

Oh, but I’m rambling! How has your travelling been? Hopefully not as bumpy as mine, but I’d think Manehatten is good at transportation. It must be nice seeing everything getting prepared, have you seen any floats yet? I can’t wait to see your pictures, I always wanted to see their parade, but I couldn’t stand in such big crowds. I hope it’s not a problem for you though!
Anyways, we’re almost to the hotel. Then, I get to meet the safari team! Have a most wonderful summer, and keep in touch!

Much love,
Fluttershy

May 20th

From Twilight Sparkle

Dear Fluttershy,

I’ve been thinking of you all morning. I’m about to head out to Cloudsdale (after the stylist finishes getting my mane ready), and thinking about pegasi keeps reminding me of the adventure you’re going on. It sounds so exciting! I know everypony else was surprised to hear you were going, but really, it sounds like something you’re right at home doing, surrounded by all sorts of animals. You might even find something nopony’s ever seen before! Maybe you’ll be able to write a book about the trip afterwards! You have to tell me about what you learn out there.

My day is a little less exciting than that. I’m still waiting on my chaperone party from Canterlot to finish preparing everything. Ugh. I could probably have flown to Cloudsdale by now, but I’m being met by the mayor when I land and having a dinner with all of the griffon and pegasi dignitaries, so I’m supposed to arrive in a regal manner. That’s something I haven’t really gotten used to yet; part of doing “official” things is not being allowed to do anything myself.

Anyway, Rainbow gave me an…interesting list of places to go in Cloudsdale. I know you haven’t lived there in a very long time, but do you have anywhere that’s more my speed you think I should go? I’m getting out to the museums as soon as I have the chance, but so far I have a deli to save for when Rainbow can come see me and a restaurant where I should avoid the pickles.

I hope you’re having a good time on your trip! I know it might be a little overwhelming for you to go out of your comfort zone like that, but I could see how excited you were about it. You’ll do great, I just know it.

Missing you already,

Twilight

To Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle,

Your Majesty, I wish to lodge an official complaint! In your absence I have been attempting, both as your dear friend and as your duly appointed Royal Tailor (for which see the enclosed proclamation which I believe you will find is in good order, needing only your Highness' signature), to update your woefully inadequate Royal wardrobe. Why, the utter lack of variety and flair in your dress selection alone - it's positively scandalous, darling. It's most possible to have pizzazz in one's garments and accessories and that certain je ne sais quoi in comport without appearing like some jewel-bedecked Camel Sultan, sweltering in the desert heat under one too many Royal robes.

Apologies, darling, where was I? Oh, yes - you see, I was rather rudely ejected from your castle by your appointed stewards as they hurled at my person a series of most ignoble epithets. In contrast to their boorish behavior, I of course comported myself in a manner befitting a Lady. I assured them politely that I needed access to your wardrobe in order to review your Royal fashion selections, and that it was most inconveniently located inside your locked personal quarters, and that I was most assuredly not 'snooping' about the castle while attempting to force certain locks on your Highness’ walk-in closets. The nerve!

This, you see, is what I get into when I find myself unengaged. “Idle hooves are Tartarus’ playthings,” as they say.

And that, my dear Twilight, has been the extent of the week’s excitement. You and the girls have been out of town but a scant few days and already a pall of normalcy has descended on Ponyville, attempted break-ins to see your saddle collection notwithstanding. You do have a not insignificant reputation as a - well, there’s no other phrase for it, is there? – a ‘trouble magnet’. Before you arrived in Ponyville a few short years ago, the occasional marriage or birth counted as a seminal event. Now we hardly go a moon without meeting what the tavern-going crowd (of which I report only third-hoof accounts, a Lady never finding herself in such establishments) lovingly calls the ‘monster of the week’.

It’s thrilling, it’s exciting, it’s the sort of stunning revelation that makes the society set gasp in horror and elation when some enterprising designer upends tradition during Fashion Week, and it’s missing. It’s not that we haven’t all been apart before, but this time it feels different, rather like an omen. I have an unsettled feeling about it. I’m not sure what’s more worrisome: that we’re apart and that one day we may not come back together (as overdramatic as that sounds), or that we six may be quite fine being apart, and might someday drift apart for perfectly good reasons. It’s certainly and suddenly quieter now, and I don’t know if I can go back to uneventful and quaint and quiet for an entire summer.

Do forgive my prattling on, dear. You have enough on your Royal plate without my waxing lonely. It’s barely been a week, after all, and I’m sure something will crop up, no?

Be well and be safe, dear Twilight. I shall miss you.

Yours,

Rarity

Dear Rarity,

How’s Ponyville? Has anypony started planning for the Harvest Festival yet? I know it’s four months away, but ponies got to build floats, and the parade order has to be worked out… maybe you should mention that to the mayor. I know she usually calls a meeting in time, but just in case. And has anypony seen to that patch of rocks in the road on the way to the school house? I know school’s out right now, but somepony ought to take some dirt over there and smooth it out. I just know some foal is gonna trip and skin their knee.

Also, tell the weather ponies to make sure to give everypony a weeks notice before a big storm, I don’t want nopony forgetting to get the trees pruned. Actually, don’t worry about that, just tell them to write to me and I’ll make sure to write to everypony in town, to remind them. Maybe I’ll write the weather factory, and see if they’ll slip me the weather schedule. Actually, that would be best, then I could write before rainy days and make sure Mac don’t let Apple Bloom out without her galoshes.

Speaking of Apple Bloom, I don’t reckon Mac’s going to remember to get her school supplies for next fall. I suppose I’ll write to Cheerilee and see what she’s going to need, then I’ll order them for her. And I’ll order them for Sweetie too. It ain’t too much trouble. I wonder if they’d give me a discount if I order for the whole class? I’ll write to the mayor and see if she wants to organize some kind of request and send it along to me.

Anyhow, thanks for helping me keep up on things. You know I got to, if the whole dang town ain’t going to fall apart. Good thing that even laid up, I’m up to the job.

Now that’s out of the way, how’ve you been? I hope you’ve been getting lots of stuff done, with all of us gone. I bet you’ve been working your tail off. That’s a real good feeling, ain’t it? Knowing you have something to do, then doing it and seeing a job well done. I bet you’re liking that. I bet you wake up every day with a bunch of stuff to do. Sometimes it probably seems like you’ll never get it done, but you just hunker down and do your best.

Okay, you probably don’t hunker much, it sounds like it'd get dresses all wrinkled. But you get my point. And that sounds like a real nice summer you got there, let me tell you.

Anyhow, if you think of anything that needs doing that I can help out with from here, just let me know. Or if anypony tells you anything I can help out with. Or if you know of anypony who told somepony something I can help out with. Or if you wanted to put up some kinda sign letting ponies know it. Y’all know I’m never too busy to help ponies.

Stay in touch.

Your friend,
Applejack.

PS: You know, I don’t think Ponyville’s ever had an earthquake, but that don’t mean it can’t happen, right? I’ll write up instructions on what to do in case that happens. I ain’t rightly sure what that is, being as we never had one, but I’m sure the library here must have something about that, and that’s pretty much the only place Twilight’s giving me permission to go. So I’ll send those along as soon as I can, and I just hope they get there in time. A pony’s work ain’t ever done, is it?

Dear Fluttershy,

Checkin’ out the guys, eh? *cough*slut*cough*slut, oh sorry, I had something in my throat. I was trying to say that you were a slut.

Nah, but I kid. If you were a slut, then I’d be, like, Superslut. I’d have a cape and everything.

...Dang, now I really want a cape. I’ll ask Rarity for one.

But anyway, Shy, I just can’t deal with all this quiet around me. There’s nobody to talk to or do anything with in these parts. I’ve just been sitting here on the dock for the past day or so tossing rocks and then making loops in the air.

Oh, and Blaze? When he’s not eating or smoking, he’s passed out on his recliner. Dude is a friggin ghost, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not even sure you’d want a picture. He’s not what we remember him as, and he’s certainly not the dude I named a move after.

...Okay, maybe I’m overreacting. I mean, it’s only been a day and a half, and he’s getting a little older and hasn’t always lived the healthiest lifestyle. Still, I would think it’d be a little bit later than his forties to start becoming so... old.

I don’t even know what I’m doing here at this point. He asks me to come over, but for me to just lounge around on a dock while he sleeps is getting frustrating, especially when there’s other stuff I wanna do this summer.

I’ll be more patient with him, I promise, but that’s not easy for me.

So what’s going on with you? Aside from your slutty ways, of course...

Okay, I’ll stop, but don’t think I’m not onto you ;)

So anyway, safari, how’s that going? Have you seen any griffons, yet? I haven’t seen one since Gilda, and I must say, I think I’ve been jonesing to see them again. If Twilight wasn’t having to deal with the fighting between the griffons and pegasi, I’d be jealous that she’s spending time in Cloudsdale with those dignitaries.

But yeah, if I take some pictures in Luna Pier, promise me you’ll take pictures of any and all awesome-looking animals. So help me, if you send me pics of bunnies or butterflies, and I have kindling for my fire.

By the way, you should totally get one of those word-a-day calendars. I once thought ‘kindling’ was gibberish, but it’s actually egghead gibberish that will make ponies think you’re smart.

Thanks for telling me about that funnel cake place, by the way. I’ve been eating it while writing this letter, and I feel better, already. I asked the ponies working there about Hankey, but they say he's retired and living in Foalando, these days. They told me his im son Honkey owns the joint now. It's some dang good funnel cake, I wish you could see it.

Actually... I think I've just found my first picture for you.

OOC: attached is a picture of a half-eaten funnel cake on a crumpled sheet of tin foil.

There, ain't she a beaute? I'll send some more pictures and, yeah, if you really want, I'll get a picture of Blaze for you.

I'll tell him you said hi... when he's awake for more than a few minutes, I mean.

Keep cool,
Rainbow.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I do hope this finds you well in Luna Pier, and your dear father as well. You speak so little of him, and of family in general, that I wondered if there was some ill will between you. Seeing you rush off so suddenly to join him certainly dispelled that notion, and I apologize for not asking of him further before this situation came up.

If you require anything at all, do please ask, Rainbow. I find myself with far too much time on my hooves and too little to do, and such a predicament could lead even a proper Lady into unfortunate straits if she allowed herself to stray. I don't suppose your father could use a new scarf, or perhaps a tastefully understated throw blanket?

Do keep in touch, Rainbow, as you’re able. I miss all of you so dearly. As much as I may complain about your occasional lack of couth and you not-so-occasional pranks (my swatch collection is off limits to you, filly, and to Pinkie too - I still haven’t gotten the hoofmarks off the ceiling), life has swiftly become too quiet, too simple to bear without you and the rest of our friends. Just yesterday I found myself staring at the sky from a bench in Ponyville Park, waiting for a chorus of songbirds to rise from the edge of the woods, or a rainbow to stitch between fading clouds. Some days I pray for peace and quiet and now, only days parted, I'm wishing just a bit that some new pony would wander into town to spark a "Welcome to Ponyville!" party, excess cider and noise complaints intact.

Oh dear me, I'm beginning to sound rather like you, aren't I? About to complain that without you five around, suddenly our little Ponyville is no longer quite as “cool” or “awesome”. How dreadful - I believe you may be contagious! Perhaps Nurse Redheart has a salve for that.

Don’t worry about Rarity - doubtless I'll manage to occupy myself somehow. Give my regards to your father, and do let me know how he's faring. Having only recently seen my own parents, and having left my beloved little protégé and sometime-nemesis Sweetie Belle with them for the summer, I know well how important family can be and how they can change one's priorities overnight.

Be well and take care, darling.

Yours,

Rarity

May 20th

From Twilight Sparkle

Dear Applejack,

I just got into Cloudsdale. It’s sort of funny; I remember flying here with everypony in my balloon and the whole trip going by so fast I didn’t even notice. This time around I was flown here in a royal chariot with attending guards. I’m positive the whole time traveling took half the time, but it was so monotonous in comparison to the balloon I was ready to grind my teeth. It was probably because I had to sit through a mane stylist getting me ready, only to fly (in an open air chariot) and have to sit through the whole thing over again before dinner. I get the second time around, I really do. These talks between the griffons and pegasi have been going on for years and they were conducted by Princess Celestia, so I understand the whole ‘keeping up appearances’ idea, I just don’t understand who was getting anything out of my mane on a chariot flight.

I’m here now, though, and I’m…I’m nervous, AJ. Really nervous. Princess Celestia says I’m the best pony for the job, and if somepony can find a way to bridge the rift between the griffons and pegasi it’d be me, but I’ve never really done anything like this before. I love helping ponies, but from everything I’ve heard and what I saw at dinner, I’m not sure anypony wants to be helped. I mean…it goes as deep as that sentence I just wrote. Helping ponies. Anypony wants to be helped. It’s ingrained as far down as how we speak; no wonder the Griffon Kingdom says we’re arrogant. And I know I’ve faced down others that didn’t want to be friends, but those situations weren’t really like this. It’s so…quiet compared to Tirek or Discord (especially Discord). Everypony’s polite and says they want to form an alliance, but it all feels like lip-service. I think they want to look like they want to form an alliance much more than actually wanting it.

And besides, when I went up against things like that, I always had you and the others right there with me. Even when I thought or was told it needed to just be me, you were always there. I’m not sure if it’s the situation that’s actually intimidating, or if it’s the fact that I really am on my own this time.

Ugh, I’m complaining and I haven’t even started doing anything yet. I’m sorry, AJ, when I was thinking about writing to you on the chariot I was imagining this letter being a lot more sentimental. I know it hasn’t been that long since we said goodbye, but I miss you already. Even with all the craziness these last few months, we had a lot of time for just the two of us and I guess I sort of thought the summer would be more of that. Maybe hoped is the better word. I hoped I’d get a quiet summer I could spend with you.

Anyway, enough of that. Cloudsdale is as beautiful as I remember and I hope I have a chance to really get out and about a few days. There are a lot of things that are unique to Cloudsdale compared to any other city in Equestria, and after the Best Young Flyer competition I was kicking myself for weeks that I didn’t get out to see the hanging garden or any of the museums. I hear there’s an old temple to a cloud spirit that’s been maintained for two thousand years! I’m getting excited just thinking about it. Rainbow gave me a couple of places to go to see, too. Well, she mostly told me to not eat fried pickles at a specific restaurant if I treasure my gastrointestinal tract, and warned me to avoid a street at night if I don’t want to be involved in…flashdances, I guess? At least she means well. She did recommend a gym, a dance club, and a deli she wants to take me to, and I’m worried I’ll have to go to the first two before she takes me to the third, just in case she asks.

So that’s what’s going on with me, I guess. How are you doing? Have you settled in in Canterlot? How’s your back been feeling? Okay, okay, I remember I promised to not pester you about how it’s feeling; you don’t even have to be here for me to picture your expression. I can’t help worrying about it, even if I know you’ll be fine if you let it heal and that you’re in good hooves. I remember the special treatment from when I had my tonsils removed as a filly. It’s a little hazy from the medicine I was on and the gallon of ice cream I ate, but everypony was really nice and I barely lifted a hoof the whole time.

I hope you’re feeling better soon. Maybe one of these weekends I’ll have enough time to come see you for a while. I’d like that.

With love,

Twilight

Dear Pinkie,

HELP ME!

Ugh, I’ll back up. So Luna Pier is almighty dullsville and my dad is just... I don’t even know what. He’s all tired and just not the guy I used to know. Did I ever tell you he played arena hoofball? He still holds all the passing records for the Cloudsdale Bombers. And even when he had to quit to raise me, he still had this... life to him that made him stupidly charismatic. Everypony loved him.

Now, he’s a ghost, and I’m stuck in his ghost town. Hopefully, I can mozy out of here within a few days, but he told me at dinner he wanted to tell me something... I asked him what exactly he wanted to say, but his face scrunched up and he just trailed off. He stood up and stumbled off to the porch for a cigarette.

So yeah, a real bastion of info, my dad is.

(Luna bless these word-a-days. Never have I had access to such metal words.)

Eh, I should stop complaining about my sitch. Soon enough, my dad will tell me what’s up, and I can say goodbye to this place forever. Hopefully, he’ll do so before I run into Fluttershy’s parents. Shy may want me to go see them, but... yeah, screw that. Don’t get me started on them.

So what’s up with you and your party binge? I remember going on something along those lines back when I dropped out of high school. I and the pack of griffons I travelled (and more) with hopped around all the clubs... and then were promptly kicked out, because usually, some drunken bozo pegasus would try to start something with the first griffon he saw.

Ugh, I am just in a real downer mood today, ain’t I? I’m sorry, Pinks, I guess this place is just doing it to me. It’s so quiet, and there’s nopony to talk to. I went out into the town to find some civilization, and there’s just a loose bundle of ponies wandering around. There were some kids breaking bottles in the parking lot of the corners (which admittedly has got some good soy jerky on them), but that’s only fun for like a minute, and then, you run out of bottles. It looks like they had skateboards on them, but I didn’t see anything to skate on while flying. They’re probably those kind of idiots who just do ollies on their front porches and injure themselves trying to be awesome ponies like Scoots.

Aw man, I miss that kid. I miss all of you guys.

But hey, like I said, I should be here a few days more at the most, so I’ll be hoofloose and not such a drag.

Let me know how you’re partying down and where you’re heading for next. I just might hit you up.

Your homegirl,
Dash.

Author's Note

Cutie Mark Pagebreaks designed by Jondor, used with permission.

Week One (Part Two)

May 21st

Heya Fluttershy

Super happy to hear that you’re having a great time. I was kinda worried that you’d be real nervous of a strange new land by yourself, but it sounds like I shouldn’t have needed to worry in the first place.

And I hear ya on struggling to sleep. Happens to me almost every other day. You just gotta do something to tire yourself out. A few laps around Sugarcube Corner usually does it for me! But I don’t think a safari like yours is gonna be a walk in the park (mostly because there are no parks in the wild), so it’s likely you’ll be falling into your comfy sleeping bad every night, no problem!

Oh, before I forget. If you get this before you leave, take the free soap from the hotel! It’s deadly important. We can’t have you all smelly when you come back.

I’d love come to visit there sometime with ya, ‘cause it sounds really cool! But from what you’ve told me, I’d have to take my candycopter. It doesn’t seem kind to groundbounders. Try those sweets from the shop for me if you can! I wanna know if griffons like different flavors than we do, or if they have entirely new ones.

Fabian sounds like a nice guy, and I’m sure he’s just trying to keep you safe. Can you imagine ~~if you got eaten by a~~ Let’s not go there. Just remember to be assertive if you think he’s holding you back from all the nice stuff. The old Fluttershy way, not the new Fluttershy way.

Manehattan’s pretty good. It’s definitely ‘alive’, since there’s always something to do! But… I dunno, I think you’re onto something with not liking it very much. Even if it’s busy, it sorta feels a bit… ummm… stale, I guess? Like, in Ponyville ponies are always saying hi to each other and stuff, and in Canterlot everypony seems pretty happy to be in such a pretty place. But Manehattan? I dunno, everypony seems different here. Like they’re only going from A to B and not even bothering with C. You think I’d like the big cities, but something about this place makes me feel weird, if only a teeny weeny bit.

I dunno, hopefully that feeling will change when the parade starts. Only a few days or so to go! The streets are starting to get all partied up, streamers and lights on the lampposts and stuff, so it looks like it’ll be a big event!

All the others are probably telling you to be safe, and I’m not gonna lie and pretend I wouldn’t say that too. But I’m sure you’ve heard enough of that, so I’ll just say this: have fun out there! Write back as soon as you can, since mailboxes don’t grow on trees. (Unless they do in Griffonland.)

Much lovey love back,
Pinkie

P.S. If you somehow run out of food, tell me A.S.A.P and a cupcakes relief package will be on its way!

Dear Rainbow Dash,

Don’t be so crude!!! I was just observing! I wasn’t trying to be ~~like you~~ loose!

Ahem. If the quiet is really bothering you, maybe you could try the cantina on the far side of town? It’s this little tiny plain building sitting just outside Pier’s limits. It doesn’t have much advertising, but if plays nice music and the water there is free, I’d shy away from their garlic-fried leeks, they can really play rough with your tummy. I know a few of the old fliers that moved to Luna Pier use that as a hang out.

Oh! You could take Buck there! He loved flying almost as much as you did, maybe the atmosphere will open him up? It has a lot of Wonderbolt and military memorabilia, I think the owner was a former flier before he retired.

I do hope Buck is okay. Did he even do his “where’s your wings” prank? I can’t imagine him, well, not lively, he used to talk my ear off when he’d come by the grocery store, even when I said we were busy. Maybe he just needs the Rainbow Dash brand of energy to get him going again.

And as for me, I made it to Griffalabella! I didn’t bring a camera but my guide told me you can buy them in the city, I’ll try to pick them up. There are plenty of griffons here, I even have two of them for guides, along with a hippogriff and a unicorn. You’d like Fabian, he’s the one who met me. He’s very suave and sweet-natured, if a little grandiose.

Broch is really quiet and always has a look on his face like somebody stepped on his claw. He hasn’t said more than two words to me, but I think I’m okay with that. He is huge, bigger than Big Macintosh! Not as big as Bulk Biceps, but Fabian says Broch is the one who will haul our equipment around. I hope he doesn’t mind the extra weight from my things.

Candis reminds me of you. He’s always in a “let’s go let’s go” state of mind, and I barely heard a word from his mouth when we introduced ourselves. He keeps reminding me that if I don’t pull my weight he’s going to leave me behind, and he seems more concerned with the schedule than if anypony’s ready. We barely started breakfast and he was annoyed that we weren’t on the trail already!

Sir Dusty Tracks is our unicorn, and you have no idea how excited I am to meet him! He’s one of the greatest animal trackers in the world, and the one who approved of me joining! He’s really classy, and incredibly handsome in a silver fox sort of way. (And don’t give me this “slut” talk, you’d fall for his moustache too.) He’s been rather dour, but I think it’s because it’s so early. Celestia’s barely put the sun up and we’re already finishing our first meal and about to check our bags.

Speaking of which, our lodgings? So cute! It’s all wood and rustic, out on the very edge of the city where travellers stay before the city gate opens in the morning. It’s a huge building, and there are griffons, ponies, and even zebras everywhere. I think I even spotted a Clydesdale running the distillery in the basement, and they’re bigger than you can think of.

We’ve been eating toast and hashbrowns full of herbs and vitamins, and they even gave me cantaloupe when I asked. The cups are a little awkward, but the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for. No milk though, milk is for inner-city “tightwads” (that’s what the bartender said, not me!).

I’m so excited I’m barely eating - though that may be because I’m writing at the same time! - but we’re just about to get going.

Candis is getting antsy so I’ll wrap this up.

Please keep me updated on Buck’s health, and I’ll even send him letters if it’ll help. I’ll try and get ahold of a camera soon so I can take you some neato pictures, but I can’t promise they’ll all be cool.

Much love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rarity,

Anything, you say? Well... I need a cape.

What? You said anything. Cape me, girl. And make sure it looks cool, like that Mare Do Well cape you made for the girls. That was sweet.

But anyway, I totally feel you on the being bored part. Luna Pier is... okay, imagine if Ponyville was sucked of all vitality and plopped down next to a lake.

Word-a-day calendar, check it out. Vitality’s my new middle name. Rainbow “Dangerous Vitality” Dash!™

So yeah, I’m just waiting impatiently for my dad to spill the beans on what he wanted to tell me so I can get out of here. I need flash and style and coolness! Luna Pier is... something Fluttershy would like.

Oh, and speaking of Fluttershy, there’s another reason I hate this place. Apparently, Fluttershy’s parents are in this town somewhere. I’m just glad I haven’t run into them yet, because I really don’t need ‘decking someone right in the face’ on my record if the Wonderbolts still have their eye on me.

I... okay, ‘hate’ is a pretty weaksauce word for how I feel about those two. You know how your parents dump Sweetie on you a lot? Imagine having parents who didn’t even give enough of a damn to dump her. They just left her to wander over to you and didn’t even have the decency to say when and if they’d be around.

My dad was more Fluttershy’s dad and mom, really, and I think she knows that pretty well. So it really confuses me as to why she’d bother to even mention their existence to me, let alone go see them and tell them she says ‘hi’.

And heck, it’s not like they’d care. Fluttershy’s dad is a loser who missed the cut for the Wonderbolts, so anytime I ever saw him, he tried to drown me with attention and try to live through me. Why? Because he’s a loser, and his wife is a bitter, ice-cold...

Okay. I took a breather. I didn’t mean to get all ranty there, Rarity. I guess I’m just getting antsy because of this town and my dad. He’s not even twice my age, and already, he seems weaker than Granny Smith. I hope he tells me what’s up soon, because it’s getting depressing to be around him. When he gets up from his nap, I’m gonna tell him to fess up. The sooner he talks, the sooner I walk (...er, fly).

When I get out of here, I got me some plans. I know first things first, I wanna see Twi in Cloudsdale. She’s probably wanting to pull her mane out as she speak due to the combination of boring meetings and griffons and pegasi being in the same room, and she’ll need The Rainbow Dash to come help her have some real fun.

When I’m done with that though, what’s say me and you go see Applejack in Canterlot? I mean, yeah, she’s probably gonna be all mopey and bedridden, but she’s got some swanky digs we can totally use to party with. And if I’m really as contagious as you say I am, then you’ll break out all the hard stuff from your sock drawer (don’t deny it, I found it when I was trying to ~~look for your diary after Sweetie Belle told me it was a real hoot~~ return your diary from the clutches of that vile wench Sweetie Belle) and provide the beverages. I’ve trashed plenty of hotel rooms, but what’s say we trash a royal suite? You and me.

Well, I’m getting hungry, so I’m gonna send this out and get me some food. I will give Luna Pier this: it may be boring and lifeless, but I’m never in short-supply of funnel cake and soy jerky.

Let me know about progress on that cape.

Your bud,
Dash.

Dashie,

What you have there is a major case of ghost town, girl. Lemme guess: you’re seeing tumbleweeds everywhere, and hearing coyotes for no good reason? ‘Cause if that’s the case, then it’s not looking good for you at all…

But a community is only as alive as its ponies are, and it just got delivered a bundle of awesome courtesy of Rainbow Dash! I know you can get the ponies there to do something fun. I’d start with something small, ‘cause the dearly departed don’t like being disturbed so much, if ya get what I mean. Be the ghostbuster you were born to be and inspire some ponies to have fun like you know how!

I’d help but… yeah, Manehattan. I was actually gonna write to you first, but then I got your letter. I knew you were fast, but wowza, I didn’t think you’d beat me at this writing thing. You still remember the Academy, right? I promise I’m not constantly checking the city mailboxes, although I’m still kinda getting used to it all. The most I’ve had to write over long distance was to Maud. The rest of my family too, but mostly Maud. She expresses herself really well through words.

Manehattan’s just like you remember it: busy busy busy! They call it the city that never sleeps and… yeah, they’re kinda right. Even in my cushty (that’s a fun word for ya) hotel room, I can hear all the ponies outside. Makes me wanna go out and join them, but I need sleep too, y’know? Of course you know. You’re always trying to sneak in a good nap. Don’t deny it, I’ve seen you. Maybe drawn on your face a few times too, heehee.

I talked to the parade organisers. They said I can join in with my own float, but only if I have the time to build one. I’ve got two days… I think it’s possible if I work really really hard. But that’s not my problem. My deal is that I have no idea what to build! The ol’ pink think ain’t working so hard today, which sucks. There is a Daring Do float though, so that’s cool.

So, about your Dad… I think he’s just getting old, Dashie. I know what that’s like, believe me. My parents have always been old. They had gray hairs when I was five, and probably before that too. Maud was always the one who did fun stuff with me (Inkie and Blinkie have always been their own little unit). Ma and Pa just want to get the work done. That’s just the way parents are sometimes. The first party we ever had together was fun, but we all knew it wasn’t gonna be a regular thing… so I packed up my things and went searching for bigger things. I’ll always love them, and they’ll always love me, but we’re just too different to mesh together well. We’d be like some sorta horrible cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Yuck.

Okay, so you can’t leave. That’d be real mean, and I know you’re not a meanie. You came to see your daddy, so that’s what ya gotta do. Remember to make sure that he knows you love him lots and lots, even if he has changed. And do some talky talk. And it’s not like old ponies can’t be awesome in their own way too. Just look at Granny Smith! Don’t tell anypony I said this, but I seriously think she’s a better baker than me. And she’s always fun to at least talk to.

Hang in there for me, ‘kay? Like you said, it’s only a couple days. No biggie. And it’s definitely better than being stuck in hospital, right? At least you can fly around. That’s something. I miss all of you oh so much too, but the letters are helping with that. Hugging letters isn’t very fun though… aaand that’s a paper cut I think. Oopsie. Quick! To the en-suite! Free soap, don’t fail me now!

Gotta dash, Dashie. Write back soon!

Your funtastic friend,
Pinkie

Dear Twilight,

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle?

Will other ponies get mad at me if I don’t call you princess? I hope they don’t return this letter if it’s addressed improperly.

I was really scared of being so far away from my friends. I’ve never left Equestria before, and I’m doing it alone! I can’t even believe I put my hoof this far forward. It’s scary, but I feel safe with the team. Not like I feel with you girls, but I feel confident that everything will be fine. I really do hope that I meet some really interesting animals, one of my guides, Candis was telling me about what to expect.

Our first stop is going to be the Griffalabella coast. A variety of rare birds and aquatic mammals make their homes in warm, temperate waters and along the cliff sides. The beachside has an extensive coral ecosystem that’s attracted a variety of fish, making it a desirable hunting spot for a lot of animals, including the Whiskered Griffala Dolphin, the Muddy Manta Ray, and the Black-Billed Harrier. Sir Dusty Tracks said he wanted to try and tag a Three-Striped Swooper while they were in the middle of their migration.

Speaking of which, Sir Dusty Tracks is our safari leader! Remember the book I shared with you last year, Stripes of the Savannah? That was his book! I hope I can get some tips from him, I’d love to share my knowledge with the world like he did, but I have to find some animals first.

As for Cloudsdale, I know you dislike the officialness of Canterlot, but Cloudsdale is better! I mean, only by a little. Cloudsdale is very proud of its athletic and military tradition, it’d be extremely polite to compliment any Cloudsdale’s officials on medals they’re wearing. If they talk about their ancestors, be sure to listen closely, and try to admire their great grandfather’s rank and military profile. Celebrity fliers are some of the most revered figures in Cloudsdale, I know you’re a princess but offering your respect is a good way to get in the pegasi’s good graces.

When you don’t have to shake hooves and smile all the time, I’d recommend the Cloudfleet Museum on the western cumulus and the Cloudsdale Museum on Thunder Lane. The first is full of Equestria’s military history, with documents from the very first outpost set up in the badlands to a lock of Queen Chrysalis’ hair. The latter is all about how Cloudsdale came to be the pegasi capital in Equestria, as well as general pegasus history.

If I remember right, the school quadrant is also home to all of Cloudsdale’s libraries, but I didn’t spend much time in the school quadrant after hours. You’ll also be able to find the astrology lab in the university but you’ll need special permission to see it (just ask the front desk). Cloudsdale is also the foremost expert on both weather and alternative farming. That basically means they try to set up farms on the clouds, and there was a story about one successful plot growing tomatoes in the university, I’m sure they could use some help from the smartest princess in Equestria.

As for food, there are a lot of sandwich shops set up around the flying field. You’ll find sandwiches, grilled and fried foods, freshly treated salads, they even had a nice quiche place last time I was there. If you want a restaurant, I can’t help you much there, I didn’t eat in very much, I usually picked up something for home.

Right now, I am very outside of my comfort zone. I’m in a wagon full of boys! I feel tiny, though they’ve been mostly pleasant. I wish you girls could be here to experience this with me, but I guess that would come into conflict with your other plans. Oh well, I’ll be back by the end of the summer and we can share our stories in person!

With love,
Fluttershy

May 22nd

Dearest Fluttershy,

Has our dear friend Rainbow Dash been rubbing off on you? I must say, darling, I never thought you the adventuresome sort, yet here you are - hock-deep in the bushlands, surrounded by exciting new creatures and exotic ponies of all walks, striking out on your own! I am so very proud of you, Fluttershy. It thrills me no end that you've finally found a cause worth a little wanderlust. Modeling was perhaps not the world for you, and singing either, but this - this is you, Fluttershy, through and through.

Speaking of exotic travels in foreign lands, I just know you'll keep me abreast of any interesting developments on the fashion front. So much of what I see from outside Equestria proper is third-hoof; the occasional traveler or foreign official haunting Canterlot is hardly enough material to base a clothing line upon, and a mare must be authentic, no?

I know making this trip must've been a difficult decision for you, dear, but I do envy you in that. Did you know that save for our girls' infrequent (or all-too-frequent) forays into world-saving adventures, I've never left Equestria? I've been to Manehattan fewer times than Applejack and I've seen Canterlot far more times as a glimmer on the horizon than up close. I feel somewhat of a fraud, really. Here I am, designer par excellence to nobles and celebrities, and I'm more of a homebody than… well, than any of you. I play at coture, yet I've never even set hoof in Prance! Perhaps I'll remedy that sooner rather than later.

I must do something soon, or I'll lose my mind, or my touch, or perhaps my battle with that bottle of Palo Coltado sherry I've been saving. My Spring and Summer lines debuted months ago, my Fall line was finished in a whirlwind of manic inspiration, and Sweetie's off with my parents while school's out. Little Ponyville's still bustling but minus you girls, it's somehow - drat, what's the word? - hollow, I suppose? I tried a spa day (pampering does cure many ills) but without you it wasn't the same. Aloe and Lotus send you their best, of course.

I've rambled dreadfully, haven’t I? Apologies, Fluttershy. Here I am moaning about so very little while you're heading off on the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy yourself, darling - you've earned it.

Yours,

Rarity

Hey Shy,

I looked up a hippogriff. Knowing that ponies and griffons can have babies would've been useful in high school.

Sorry if this is kind of brief. I have a hangover.

I took Blaze to that Cantina. Good drinks. Lots of good drinks.

He told me what's up and... he's fine. Fine. Seems he was just pulling one of his epic pranks, you know? Tricked me into doing his chores for a few days while he slept, but the jig's up.

Now that he's told me... I think I'm gonna stay a while longer. To catch up and stuff, you know? And he also wants to get back into shape so that he can take a good picture for you. I mean, not that he's really out of shape and stuff, but he's just not needed to do some real exercising in a while and stuff.

But yeah, don't worry about his health and stuff. I told him about it, and he says hi. He's been talking about you a lot. Misses you.

Sorry about that splotch. Drool stain.

I've got a really bad headache, so I need to go back to sleep. I'll tell you more later. Your friends sound cool, by the way.

Seeya,
Dash.

May 23rd

Dear Pinkie Pie,

We’ve left Griffalabella already, though I wish we could have stayed. It was such a big and beautiful place, and you wouldn’t need your copter, actually! They have grounded entrances for groundbounders, but you’d have to be able to climb a lot of stairs to live here. I think it would be worth it for a vacation (I don’t know about staying though, it’s a lot of stairs).

Fabian is really nice, and he’s constantly checking up on me. He’s our group’s cook and navigator, and he’s very good. I don’t think we’ve even needed a map, he seems to know all sorts of backwoods trails to get to our locations. I think we cut down on our way to Griffalabella’s coast by about two hours? We’re currently camped out at the top of the cliff, but there’s a town that’s only a forty minute flight away.

I had a hard time convincing the others to let me fly there to mail my letters. Sir Dusty Tracks and Fabian seemed hesitant, but were okay as long as I was only mailing letters. Candis insisted that we were on a safari, and the only way to get the real experience was to rough it. He thinks we should be hunting and gathering our food and only going into town in places that were hard to hunt.

Candis and I got into a big argument about hunting. I didn’t want to hurt any of the animals we were observing when we only had to throw some bits to a local butcher shop - I am trying to keep myself from screaming or being queasy, griffons have a right to eat - but he grew really angry and I think flustered when I stood my ground? He and Broch started growling at me, but I asked myself “what would my friends do?” and growled right back. I think I confused them.

Fabian eventually got him to agree to hunt only animals unrelated to our safari, and got me to agree that I’m to only go into town to deliver letters, and not to buy food. Since I’ve learned how to scavenge, I’d agreed, but I feel like I got off on the wrong hoof already. Maybe I should have been more pliable, but this is a safari to to observe the animal’s natural behavior, not see how they’d react to the introduction of a new predator in their ecosystem.

I’m sorry if I’m coming off as angry, I’m just frustrated.

As for Manehatten, I felt the same way. It was certainly a beautiful place on the outside, but it felt cold, and empty on the inside. Like all the life was in the business and the commute rather than the ponies. I hope the culture faire brings out the best in everypony! I know Ponyville always got extra proud and happy whenever we were celebrating.

Who knows? Maybe it just needs that Pinkie Pie touch to really bring the cattle to town. I wish you the best of luck with your float!

Much love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rarity,

I think you’re being too hard on yourself. You have such a broad knowledge on fashion, I mean, not just from your catalogues, your books, your photos, and your interviews, but you have a certain mind about you that tells you exactly what ponies will love to see and love to wear even more.

Disregarding our embarrassing reaction the first time you tried to be nice to us, I can’t think of a single pony who hasn’t loved your clothing, and your attention to detail is tres magnifique. Fashion in Griffalabella is somewhat limited, most likely because they are all large fliers so clothing would get ruined rather quickly, but from what I’ve seen of it they seem to enjoy contrasting colors.

I saw a couple on the street while passing through wearing robin’s egg blue coats with traffic cone orange undershirts and dress pants. There was a butler with his madam who wore the strangest black and white checkered outfit I’d ever seen, while the lady he was escorting was wearing eye-catching reds, greens, and yellows. I suppose if you’re going to live in a city full of fliers, something that is deliberately eye-catching would be appropriate to stand out.

My current companions and I have been getting along. Mostly. Our disagreements have so far been the only bump in this otherwise wonderful trip. I won’t fill you in on the details but I’ve had to argue with them about hunting! I don’t want to stifle their appetite in their own home town, but we’re supposed to be observers, not predators.

At least Fabian and Sir Dusty Tracks look at my point of view. They’ve been very pleasant, but our other companions, Broch and Candis don’t seem to want me here. Broch is very much like Big Macintosh, big strong and quiet, but a little meaner. Candis is, well, bossy, and really opinionated. I try to be accommodating but I have to put my hoof down somewhere, especially since he constantly tries to overrule our Safari Leader’s decisions.

At the very least we’ll be doing our actual work this afternoon. We’re going to be down by the Griffalabella coast looking at the reefs, the birds, the fish, and the dolphins! I’m very excited to be apart of this experience, and can’t wait to see the animals in their natural habitat as opposed to pictures and stories.

As soon as I get back, we can spend a whole day at the spa and I’ll tell you, Aloe, and Vera all about the trip! I’ll try and find you some swatches to bring you, and see if the clothes-makers will let me have some of their schematics to give you in the meantime.

Until then, I miss you very much and can’t wait to see you again!

Much love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m glad to hear Buck’s doing okay, even though that seems a little unlike him. He always liked the sillier pranks, he once told me that pushing your work onto others is immoral. He must be tired in that case, the poor stallion, always so busy trying to keep you in a good house with good food.

Please tell him he doesn’t have to try too hard to give me a picture, I’ll love it no matter what. I just want to see him happy and healthy. Though exercise would be good for him, sleeping all day is terrible for your body. I’m sure he just needs a little while to get back into the swing of things.

You on the other hand, missy, should know better than to go around getting yourself drunk! Especially around your father! Don’t you remember those old PSA’s they’d make us watch every week? Being inebriated hinders your flying ability and harms your depth perception, two things a pegasus very much needs when they’re a hundred feet above the ground!

The drinks they serve at the cantina aren’t even that strong, how much did you drink? Were you and Buck having a drinking contest? Last time I was there, they barely served anything stronger than 3%. You’d better not have blown your whole summer fund on that cantina, Rainbow Dash! You still have a lot of mares to visit and keep company once you and Buck are properly caught up, and imagine how embarrassing it would be if you showed up at Applejack’s and you couldn’t even afford a ticket to see an aerial athletics show!

Sorry about blowing up at you, I’m just a little frustrated with some of my safari companions. They’re nice, but we’re having disagreements on hunting and going into town. I spent nearly an hour trying to convince everypony to let me to mail this.

I want an authentic safari experience too, but I think isolating ourselves from civilization is the wrong way to go about it. We’re here to observe and study animals, not cut ourselves off from everypony else.

That’s just me though, and at the very least I’ve gotten permission to keep up to date with you girls. They don’t understand how important it is that I keep in contact with you, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack. I guess there’s something to be said about a camping trip with just you and your friends, but I don’t think I would be able to stay away from you girls for the whole summer.

Anyways, I need to check the snorkeling gear to make sure we can do our underwater observations. Please stay safe and don’t get yourself hurt up there, and tell Buck he’s in my thoughts.

I’ll see you when I get home.

Much love,
Fluttershy

May 25th

Pinkie,

I... haven’t written in a few days to you, and I’m sorry about that. I haven’t written to anyone. Things haven’t been good. They’re bad... awful.

So, my dad and I went out for drinks a few nights ago and he told me what was wrong with him. He isn’t getting old, not really. He’s... dying.

My dad is dying, Pinkie, and I don’t know what to do.

I’ve been spending the last few days yelling at him, crying at him, telling him how much of a screw up he is for not telling me sooner. Just so much anger and sadness that I’ve just lost the energy to do anything else.

Well, I’m writing to you, so maybe I’m getting better. Or maybe I’m desparate. I don’t know yet.

He wants me to take care of him Pinkie. Wants me to, in his own words, help him run out the clock. In other words, he wants me to stay with him until he dies. And he also wants me to tell Fluttershy what’s going on.

I can’t do any of this. I can’t watch him die, and I can’t tell Fluttershy he’s dying. I feel like I just need to go. Just get out of here and never look back.

But I can’t, he’s my dad. I’m stuck. I’m helpless.

What do I do, Pinkie? How do I help my dad? Damn it, how do I help myself? Or Fluttershy? What do I tell her?

I’m sorry I’m laying this all down on you, Pinkie. I know it’s not right to bum you out. I just... I needed someone to talk to. Someone who knows how to put on a happy face and make everything seem like it’s okay.

You’re good at that, you know?

I should probably go to sleep. My dad’s been out for hours now, and I’ve been spending this whole time out on the dock. I don’t like sleeping in that house anymore.

The sky’s clear tonight. Maybe I can rest easy on a cloud.

Please write back soon, Pinkie. I need you.

Your friend,
Dash.

Week Two

May 26th

Hiya!

So the griffons like stairs, huh? Interesting… very interesting.

And wow, some of these guys seem like real hardcore safari… ers. You should ask them why they aren’t sending letters. Surely they’ve got friends and family back home too, right? Just because you’re in the wild doesn’t mean you all have to be like caveponies. Neigh.

As for the hunting… hum, I dunno! I think it’s good you stood your ground ‘n’ all, but things work differently there. I’ve seen you feed fishies to your otters before. It’s kinda like that, I guess. Circle of life and stuff. I guess you’d know better than me, but that’s what I think. From the sound of things, griffons have been hunting for aaaaages.

Maybe you just need to be more tolerant of each other? You’ve only just met, but you’re all going on this epic safari adventure! Normally that’d be something we’d do, but you’re doing with a bunch of new griffons. That makes things kinda different. But you’re still doing really well just by being there, so Auntie Pinkie here is proud of ya.

Sorry I haven’t written much lately, but I had to work real hard on my float. I talked to Coco Pommel (you remember her, right?) and she said that I like singing and stuff, so why not make a musical float? I thought that it was a good idea, but it felt like it was missing one thing…

So I added bubbles. Everypony likes bubbles.

Basically I had all these giant trumpets wrapping around the float, and the base of it was a giant drum, and there were loads of other big instruments for decoration! All the trumpets blew out bubbles onto the crowd and they seemed to love it! I played my one pony polka, which went down a treat! It’s pretty tiring though, so I had to eat some candy afterwards to keep going.

There was so many other floats there, you wouldn’t believe it! The Daring Do was really cool! It was like, a giant temple of something with (fake) fire erupting from the top! All the kids seemed to really enjoy that, but I had to laugh at all the adults getting all giddy about it too. It’s fun to see the grown up ponies go back to their childhoods for once.

The city felt so alive, it was amazing! Music played throughout the streets, and the cheers of the crowd was just electrifying! Everypony seemed real happy to be there, even the guard ponies!

But then… everything just kinda stopped when it finished. Like, there wasn’t much of a post-party cheer. Life went back to normal for them, so that lifeless came back like a moody ~~Opalen Opalasen Opalesense~~ Opal when she comes back to Rarity’s house. I don’t think I like Manehattan very much, but neither do you or Applejack, so that makes three of us at least.

I’m going to Baltimare tomorrow. There’s a boat race that’s got my name on it! And these won’t be the boring sail boats, nah. These are gonna be the super cool new steam boats! I can’t wait!

Trying to find her sealegs in time,
Pinkie

Dashie,

Sorry this didn’t come sooner. I’m hugging your letter right now. I know that doesn’t mean much, but you’re in my thoughts. And, I dunno, maybe you’ll feel some of the warmth hugs bring.

This is gonna sound kinda mean, but it’s not, Pinkie Promise. I just gotta know though: what’s he ~~dyi~~ passing of? You need to know as much as you can if you wanna do your best to help him. And that includes getting a doctor too. Make sure you get a nice one, ‘cause some of them put up a wall between them and patients so it seems like they don’t really care.

You gotta be strong for him, Dashie, like I know you are. It’s terrible to be away when somepony you love passes away, ‘cause then you never get to say any proper goodbyes. Just trust me on that one. Years later, you’ll look back at this, and you’ll get a little sad, but you’ll get a little happy too because you knew you made your Dad happy by just being there and you’ll remember all the good times. It’s just gonna be a bit hard right now, but I know you can get through it.

You also need to tell Fluttershy. She deserves to know, probably more than I do. And a burden shared is a burden halved. Or thirded, in this case? If she finds out by herself, that you kept this all a secret, she’s gonna be really upset. And Fluttershy’s smart, so she’s gonna find out sometime whether you tell her or not.

Make sure you get plenty of rest too and don’t do anything silly. I don’t think you will though, but I’m writing that juuuust in case. Write to us often, okay? Maybe tell the others about this too, but I’m leaving that one down to you. Oh! And thanks for telling me about this, Dashie. It can’t have been easy, but it probably feels just tiny bit better, right? I hope so.

I’m hugging your letter again just in case.

I’ll try to figure out a way to put cupcakes or something else with these letters, without mushing them up. I’m leaving Manehattan soon, heading for Baltimare for a boat race. But if you want me to be with you instead, I’ll be right there. Actually, you probably know that already. You’re always so easy to find.

Hope this helps. Sorry if it’s not as, uh, ‘me’ as you expected, but there’s time for that later. For now, be strong, be safe, and be writing back as soon as you can.

Lots of love,
Pinkie

P.S. Ooo! I had the best idea ever! We could totally play some fun pranks on the others with these letters! If you want to, anyway, it just sounded like a bit of fun.

May 27th

Dear Fluttershy,

The cantina's loaded here, you don't even know :D

But yeah, ever since Blaze and I went there last week, I've been going there a lot, usually when he goes to sleep, because hey, the party shouldn't stop for the Dash just because her old stallion's too lame to keep going, amirite?

Nah, but things are cool here. Luna Pier is still lame, but Blaze told me he gets that. He said he needed a change of scenery anyway, so we're taking a trip!

Yeah, we decided we'd go to places together. We can get him back into shape, and hey, maybe he'll be up for flying again! The dude can still fly, Shy, he's just not in the right mentality.

But yeah, later in the afternoon, we're on a train headed for Vanhoover, and then if we don't like what we see there, I've got places like Manehattan, Baltimare, Las Pegasus, and a bunch of other spots. It's kind of a 'Dash and Blaze get their groove back' kind of trip, so hopefully, I–or really, we–succeed in our mission.

So yeah, maybe we'll see the girls, we'll see.

Now, about your safari buddies, I'm proud of you for standing your ground. If they try to give you any more grief, let them know you're not gonna put up with it. No matter how much they kick and scream about how they're not gonna move or how your plan is stupid (or something, I'm just generalizing here, btw), you need to stay principled knowing that you're making the right call.

Just let me know if they're giving you any more trouble, let me know. I can swing by and kick some asses, if need be (those jungle countries have good witch doctors, right? Just wondering).

But anyway, Blaze and I have some packing to do. We'll be at the Sky-Rise in Manehattan, if you're wondering.

Stay cool,
Dash.

P.S.- Oh yeah, I totally paid attention to all those boring PSAs back in high school. Come to think of it, did they also explain safe sex? Because if so, I either really flaked out, or griffon-pony sex needs to be taught to pegasi, or else it's really touch and go for a kid...

Dear Pinkie,

I wanna apologize, first off. I probably wasn't all-together when I wrote that letter, and I must have stressed you out unfairly.

At the same time, though, I wanna thank you. I needed somepony to be there for me, and you were just that. Dunno what I'd do without you.

I'm in a better state of mind now, so my priorities are focused, once again.

So, I guess I should first answer your question. My dad seems to be dying of some kind of cancer. He doesn't seem to be in the know about what it is specifically, either... which is why I'm getting him out of Luna Pier to some experts.

He can't be dying, Pinkie. He's just been sick and seems to think that's grounds for him to give up. I'm not gonna go to these crap doctors in Luna Pier, either. Obviously, this dead environment is sucking away his life force, or something. I'm taking him all over Equestria to find clinics. Good ones. Ones that I found in books and medical magazines and crap. I'm gonna find a doctor who can help my dad. I refuse to subside when it comes to family. (Yeah, word-a-day calendar. Still awesome)

Right now, I'm on a train to Manehattan. I've already got an appointment with their best oncologist, and he's gonna set things straight, I just know it.

But don't stop your trip for us, Pinkie. You've helped enough already by just lending an ear (or, I guess, set of eyes. You weren't 'all ears' so much as 'all eyes'). But yeah, you have fun in Baltimare, while I get my dad better.

Let me know about the wild stuff you're getting into, alright? I'll let you know how my dad's doing.

Stay cool,
Dash.

P.S.- Letter pranks? You are so on. Where do we start?

May 29th

Heya Dashie,

You shouldn’t have to worry about me, silly. I wasn’t the one that needed a li’l comfort. I was more than happy to help ya out, ‘cause if you’re sad, that makes me feel bad.

And you’re going to Manehattan? Aw! I was just there! I’m in Baltimare now, getting ready for a super awesome boat race. You’d love it, ‘cause they’re not saily-wind boats. They’re the new steam boats! Think water trains you’re kinda halfway there. Sorta. We’ll be racing around the sea and stuff, so I hope I’ve got a big enough boat to deal with sharks and stuff.

Anyway… cancer really sucks. It’s not like a cold, or a broken leg, when you can just feed your patient hot soup and cuddle them until they get better. It’s… different. I don’t even know how it works, but I’ve heard things from ponies. I’m glad you’re going with him to see good doctors, but please be careful. Don’t hop from town to town constantly, ‘cause that’s just gonna wear out your poor dad. And you gotta remember why he invited you to see him in the first place: for some quality time together. So make sure you squeeze that in between appointments. Don’t want you both catching boredom in all those squeaky clean hospitals!

But onto pranking! There’s tons of stuff we could do, some harder than others. It’s probably best to start small though and build it up from there. And anypony who figures us out can join in! It’ll be great! We might have to do different things for different ponies though. Twilight’s probably gonna see right through any sort of hidden messages we put in between the lines.

I think we should start with something more practical. How about glueing our letters to the envelopes? Glue the blank side since we still want our friends to get a lovely letter from us. But can you just imagine the looks on their faces when they try to get the letter out? Oh I wish I could pop out of the envelope too just to see it!

Take care of yourself and your dad, okay? If you need anything from me, I’ll do whatever I can to help. And be honest, too. Honesty is the best policy. Except for pranking, obviously.

Be safe and have lotsa fun,
Pinkie

Dear Pinkie,

Ah, Manehattan! I do miss it so. I admit I was somewhat disillusioned with the grand metropolis after that dreadful experience with Suri Polomare. I will speak no more of that abominable wretch lest I utter words unbecoming of a Lady. Perhaps the entire affair was for the best, though. Otherwise I may never have met that delightful Miss Pommel, and as you so frequently (and wisely, might I add) remind us, one can never have too many friends.

Speaking of friends, you have reminded me that I have been a dreadful one, which I am wont to do when distraction calls. I haven’t spoken to dear Coco in weeks, by letter or otherwise, and I feel simply awful about it. Celestia as my witness, the very moment I finish this letter, I shall write to Coco as well. I appreciate your mentioning her, Pinkie. Without such wonderful friends like you, how many of us would drift off into our own little worlds of work and duty and life? And as to your offer – yes, if you have time, do be a dear and check in on her, if you would. I would very much appreciate it as a personal favor.

I am at your disposal for decorating advice, though my experience with culture parades is rather limited. I’m not certain even cosmopolitan Manehattan is ready for haute coture parade floats. The fashion industry is a culture unto itself, if I am to be honest, and a rather vicious and insular one at that. “Squabbling and sniping and maneuvering against one another like a tea room packed with one too many feather-boa-bedecked and thoroughly starved Diamond Dogs” would not be an inapt image. Living in Ponyville insulates me from it somewhat, for which I am forever grateful.

Still, even a good Fashion Week backstabbing would be almost welcome at the moment. Things here are no more exciting than before, less so if possible. I hesitate to say this to you, for I know exactly what sort of fate-tempting in which I am about to engage, but I would welcome a surprise at this point – any surprise. Oh, what I would give for a good Rainbow-and-Pinkie prank right now! I would of course rant about my mussing my mane and how Ladies don’t engage in such tomfoolery, but only now when you’re all away do I realize how much those little surprises kept my life interesting, and in the best of ways.

Your letter opened with sage advice: “summer is the chance to try new things,” and perhaps the time has come for exactly that. I’ve been moaning about how I’m abandoned and trapped here in Ponyville, and here you and Fluttershy took the leap and made your own adventures. I have the bits and the time, and now I may just have the motivation.

Thank you, Pinkie. You’re a true darling.

Yours,
Rarity

Dear Rainbow Dash,

It’s good knowing you’re going places with your father, he was such a busybody he could barely go anywhere with us. Retirement sounds like it’s been good to him, I’m glad he has the free time to spend with you now.

Your trip with him sounds like it’s going to be a blast! He always did want to see the cities, he used to tell me all about how he met your mom while at a party in Las Pegasus. The bright lights, all of the ponies, the loud noises, the plays, the casinos, the competitions, I’m happy that you get to help him revisit all of that! I don’t think I could handle the city life very well, but you’re so good in social situations.

Be sure he does his stretches before he flies though! Airborne cramps are nothing to laugh at at his age.

I also forgot to apologize, I was late writing this letter due to our travels.

Candis is still very on the move but is a very effective animal handler. While we were exploring the Griffala Coral Reef he actually dissuaded a shark from the area by breaking a few vials filled with the oil taken from a dead shark. Disgusting, I know, but he assured me that the shark’s death had been natural and the oil was a by-product.

He kept the reef clear of predatory of territorial animals while Sir Dusty Tracks and I tagged and documented the fish! Broch watched and handled the equipment before giving it to us, and Fabian observed the birds and counted their eggs. We had an extremely productive day, you might have found it boring but I loved it!

The coral is gorgeous and comes in so many shapes, sizes, and colors. Sir Dusty Tracks and I were extremely careful not to harm the ecosystem, and tagging equipment we used uses a specialized ink that is in no way toxic to the environment.

I’m still draining sea water from my hair, but it’s no biggy! I got very dry - and kind of crinkly - playing with the birds. Fabian told me I have sort of savant-like connection with them. I got to look at their eggs and they didn’t try to fight me off, and I even flew with a flock of Ertin Tails (ertin means “split” in Griffon, Ertin Tails have scissor-like primaries, laterals, and side tail feathers).

I got the chance to watch a black-billed harrier’s mating dance as well! It was funny, but it was also very beautiful. The male approaches a female and raises his black feathered-tail to keep her in the shade while the sun rises. Then, he bobs and waves his white head left and right, up and down, it was almost hypnotizing against his dark body. If a female rejects the male, she leaves and gets back into the sun. If she accepts him, she moves closer to his shade, allowing him to touch her.

Sir Dusty Tracks also got to tag a three-striped swooper, which got him very excited. I feel like I’m really pulling my weight, calming the animals and letting the others approach them. He hasn’t needed to use a sedation spell once, which pleased him and Candis. Candis apparently dislikes any form of environmental change (even though he’s perfectly okay hunting).

While I write this, we’re on the wagon again to our next location, the Ur’konda Savanna, which separates Griffalabella from zebra lands. It’s going to be a long trip, but it’ll be well worth it.

I’m a little concerned about Broch though. He’s still very quiet but he keeps going through the equipment almost obsessively. He won’t let me approach any of it without his permission first. He’s not mean about it, but he’s weirdly possessive. He was the one that dug out my paper and pencil for this letter. From a distance, nothing seems wrong with the stuff. It’s a lot of bags, a lot of books, clothing, writing utensils, and tagging materials, with some extra. He’s even counting the food down to salt and pepper by pound.

He’s taking a nap right now, and I feel bad gossiping, but Fabian is telling me it’s nothing, Sir Dusty Tracks says the same, and I’m afraid to ask Candis after our argument.
I’m sure it’s nothing, but I can’t help but feel a little concerned, you know?

Much love,
Fluttershy

May 31st

Dear Applejack,

Oh, Applejack.

I knew - suspected to the point of surety, really, but a Lady doesn’t quibble so - I knew it was bad, but I had no idea your injury would find you in such straits. I see now why Twilight sent you to Canterlot. She may be new to the crown but this proves her wisdom every bit as much as opening some pretty little box.

I'd send you a fifth of Stalliongrad's finest, or perhaps a few bottles of Sweet Apple Acres Private Reserve, but the former may start you down a hoofpath you're better off not traveling and the latter may make your longing all the worse. Not that the minders Twilight left watching you would allow such luxuries, of course. Haven't noticed her spies, hm? Don’t think for a moment that she'd leave you unattended. She knows you quite well, better than the rest of us (in ways a mare of manners does not discuss openly), and she's as eager as the rest of us to see you rest and recuperate, neither of which involves your saving Ponyville from itself.

Let me leave you with a suggestion, Applejack, and you are of course free to cast it to the winds. Write the girls, if you need, but beyond that, pen exactly one more letter. Use it to ask your dear Granny Smith how many crises Ponyville endured before you arrived to smooth its every rockpile and schedule its every raincloud. The elder darling has your gift of honesty, with the flair of bluntness only those whose winters are dwindling can apply. Let her tell you what goes on without you, when you're charging into Froggy Bottom Bog or across the frozen Crystal Empire tundra or through the very gates of Tartarus. I daresay the view from her front porch rocker reaches a good deal farther than your precious East Orchard.

As for myself, in fact I have utterly nothing to do. Sweetie is spoken for this summer, the rest of you are scattered across Equestria, and Ponyville needs neither saving nor a new line of Fall outerwear. I do sympathize with you; there's no feeling quite like seeing a project from inspiration to completion, especially when it's for a cause more worthy than ourselves. I'm stir crazy and restless, and - forgive me if I borrow your gift of directness for a moment - I am, unlike your poor self, in a position to change my surroundings. I fear I may need to do so rather soon or I may end up puttering about like some crazymare, ranting about earthquakes yet to happen or parades Twilight herself planned in excruciating detail months ago.

Do try to relax, will you, darling? You will do Ponyville, your family, and all of us far more good returning in good health and good spirits than you will as a half-healed nervous wreck. I shall miss you, dear, from wherever I may be when next I write.

Yours,
Rarity

June 1st

Dear Pinkie Pie,

That sounds very fun! The floats I mean, I just wish that sort of cheer could have stayed. I bet it must have been really exciting being apart of it. Then again, so many ponies watching you and cheering at you, or what if they’re not cheering? What if you make a bad float and nopony likes it and they start booing?

Or even worse, you try to be clever and ironic with, like, a Nightmare Moon float and they get super mad and start throwing things?! I don’t think I could put up with that stress, you’re very brave for risking your creativity like that, ponies can be so cruel sometimes…

Though boats aren’t. Boats don’t feel, but I always feel good near the water. The ship that brought me here was really nice, and the sailors were ~~handsome~~ ~~huge~~ nice and ~~thought I was sexy~~ were very complimentary. It got me thinking about maybe looking into a sail boat. Steamboats are too noisy and fast for me, I would be happy with just wind power and pillow to lay on.

Despite that, I wish you the best of luck in your race! Don’t worry about winning, I’m sure they’ll have some ponies like Dash competing, and if that’s the case, just do your best and enjoy the nice weather, unless it’s terrible, in which case you should probably stay inside where you won’t get rained on.

I talked with my safari friends about letters, and Sir Dusty Tracks said that he wants a totally pure experience to write about. He wants the safari to be about us and the wild, and that too much interaction with home makes his ~~loins~~ heart ache. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but he probably has a wife.

Candis had similar feelings, saying he wanted to have the whole safari feel isolated and wild. I get the feeling he’s not a big fan of cities, he got grumpy when we stepped into Silbera. Speaking of which, we’re in a new town. This one has some ponies and griffons, but it’s mostly zebras, so we’re definitely further south than I thought. It’s more of an outpost than anything, none of the buildings look permanent or new, and the food is mostly gruel (but it’s pretty good, they’re doing incredible things with potatoes).

Broch was silent as usual, but I get the feeling he’s more concerned with our stuff in the cart. He’s been defensive about it, and we have to ask him to retrieve what we want for us. He’s extremely protective, and the only time he raises his voice is when somebody gets too close to our stuff without asking. I don’t want to make him mad by asking him about why he’s being defensive, but he actually escorted me to the cart, got the paper and pencil for me, and then came back with me to eat (and boy did he look unhappy about it). I guess he just needs to know he can trust me.

Fabian says the thought hadn’t occurred to him, which is a little odd considering he’s so smart and charismatic, he can talk the zebra language as easily as pony or griffon. Still, it seems I’m the only one I convinced to write any letters, and they’re letting me do it without a fuss.

I’ve agreed to let them hunt for their food, but we’re on a strict “don’t ask don’t tell” basis about it. While I’ve been keeping my head turned, I do catch them preying on the wildlife and… goodness. Griffons are almost hawk-like, I never realized just how sharp their eyes were, or how fine-tuned they are to hunting. Those claws are so strong, Candis especially is an amazing hunter.
I wish I hadn’t looked, but watching him catch fish was hypnotizing. Broch is a little clumsy, but he’s so big he’s probably more suited to large game. I bet he could carry off a full grown buck without an issue. Fabian seems to prefer ground hunting, he’s good at pinning things in their holes and…

Sir Dusty Tracks recommends I don’t pay attention, but I can’t help it. These griffons are emulating their ancestors, hunting and eating purely through instinct. They don’t hunt anything endangered so I’m a little less troubled, but it still leaves me feeling numb whenever they come back.

I wish I wasn’t so judgmental, they know how I feel about it, but after getting to know so many animals, you start to really feel that nature isn’t some big dog-eat-dog world. All my animals get along, so I forget just how unforgiving nature can be outside of Ponyville, or even outside of Equestria.

Still, I’m trying to tolerate them. I’m in their home, on their safari, I need to act with proper respect.

Much love,
Fluttershy

OOC: Contains fake letter written in ink that explodes in reader’s face along with the real thing.

Hey Shy,

It’s a shame I can’t see the look on your face (eh? EH?)

I’ll tell ya, joke shops in Manehattan are way more packed with stuff than anything we got in Ponyville.

Anyway, sorry for not writing. Busy weekend. We had... fun.

Yeah, fun, but we’re heading out in the morning. Manehattan’s got its sights and sounds and amazing joke shops, but I decided it’s best for him if we keep moving. This city didn’t really have what I was looking for, so next stop is Las Pegasus.

You know, it’s funny... Blaze never really talked to me all that much about mom or how they met and stuff. All I really knew was that she was younger than him and couldn’t raise me.

He really told you stuff, huh?

Whatever, it’s not a big deal, I guess. We’re going over to... party, and party we will. I’m sure we’ll find exactly what we’re looking for in that city, and if not, we’ll keep moving forward. Blaze will act like he’s tired, but I think I know my dad. He’s not a quitter. None of us are.

But anyway, you. All these dudes you’re with sound like weirdos, but if they’re hot, there might be a way to breaking through that weirdness. Ever consider the ol’ boom-shacka-lacka? Heck, take all of ‘em on, and it might ease the tension somewhat. It worked back when I rolled with my griffon buddies when there was a bad argument or sense of mistrust. You might not think ponies have mating dances like those snakes, but trust me: strut your stuff, shake your butt, lift your tail, you cannot fail!

Nah, but I kid. If these guys give you any more trouble or do anything fishy, I want you to tell me, alright? I will drop everything for the express purpose of ass-kickery.

And buck up, alright? You’re doing some cool stuff, okay? Blaze still remembers you as that little filly who was terrified of her own shadow, but look at you now! I’m telling him about some of the stuff you’re writing, and he’s pretty dang proud.

And... he really misses you. Like, a lot. I wasn’t gonna bring this up, but I had a conversation with him last night, and I brought up what you told me about Las Pegasus, and he talked about how there were certain things he could only tell you. We argued about... other stuff, but when he told me about you, it really hit me home how much you meant to him. You’re every bit of a daughter to him as I am, Shy.

And I guess that’s why he was a bit of a slouch when I got to Luna Pier. He’s missed us a lot, and I haven’t done my best to stay in his life. Not since High School, at least.

And maybe that’s why things are so strained between us... hopefully, I can make it up to him, right?

Write back soon, aiight? I mean... after you clean up (I know you can’t see it, but I’m having trouble breathing, you must look doofy as hell).

Your friend,
Dash.

Week Three

June 2nd

Dearest Fluttershy,

Truly you are as kind with words as you are with hospitality and hugs, darling! I don’t deserve all your praise, really. I suppose even with compliments it’s as proper to receive graciously as to give generously, so I’ll accept them, albeit reluctantly. I need not remind you of all ponies that I’d be a frazzled mess without you and our friends.

I didn’t mean to alarm you, dear. Drama is as drama does – ignore me if I become a bit excessive. I’m just restless and perhaps a tad jealous that I’m here and everypony else isn’t. I realize some of it was by choice and some was necessity; this doesn’t make it any less… Well, I’m not quite sure what it is. Am I feeling wistful? Lonely, perhaps? Certainly not. It’s merely a momentary bout of creative malaise. Restlessness of spirit and a yearning for answers last year’s Cabernet can’t provide. That’s it, really. Nothing to worry about.

And if I shan’t worry about moi, then I may surely worry about you. What sort of characters have you fallen in with, Fluttershy? Why, predators! They don’t sound particularly savory. No pun intended, of course. I admit my only contact with Griffons has been with the delightful Gustave le Grande, and that detestable wretch Gilda. Monsieur le Grand is a chef well-versed in all manner of cuisine, Equine-suitable and otherwise, as you well know, and quite a charmer. You know how I and the others feel about Gilda. I hesitate to say more about that buzzard lest I sully my speech with distinctly un-Ladylike words. Do be careful, please? Stick close to this Sir Dusty or whomever else you feel you can trust. I know there’s quite sufficient steel under your silk, darling. You can handle yourself but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry over you.

Many thanks for the tips on Griffabellan fashions. You have an eye for it as much as I do, so anything you can note - patterns, colors, styles, preferences - will be greatly appreciated. I’m thrilled you’re about to be snout-to-muzzle with all manner of creatures - you sound like you’re in your element, and your smile rings through your words loud and clear. I’ll hold you to that spa date, darling.

Enjoy yourself, stay safe, and don’t worry about me. Your expedition has inspired me! I do believe a change of scenery may be in order.

Yours,
Rarity

June 3rd

OOC: Flour will burst out of the envelope as soon as it is opened.

Heya Rares,

Great to see that you’re gonna mail Coco! I visited her, and even though she was kinda weirded out at first, she opened up to me. She’s super nice. Reminds me of Fluttershy in a few ways, but in others she’s different. She really wants to improve her clothing skills and I think she feels a li’l lost without you. I didn’t really know what advice to give her though, ‘cause I only know about crazy costumes and stuff. Not stuff that other ponies think is fashionable.

Don’t worry about my float though. I eventually did it! I made a musical float with all kinds of instruments, like the time I led those parasprites out of time. Except this time, my trumpets and stuff blew bubbles too! Everypony loved it, especially the kids, so my day was made right there. I think some of the ponies on the other floats were a bit jealous, buuuuut I didn’t care that much. Ponies were having fun so why did it matter?
All your talk about the fashion business just reminds me why I stay waaaaay clear from it. Apart from you and Coco, I don’t think many ponies are actually in it to make ponies look and feel good about themselves, which is what it should be about. For a lot of ponies, it just seems to be a popularity contest. And the best way to be popular is to be nice to everypony! Why doesn’t nopony get that?

Maybe you should give Coco a visit too, huh? That’d be something to do. Or go to Baltimare and look at all the nice boats! I’m there right now, by the by. I tried to get into a boat race, but they didn’t let me join, which sucked more than the barnacles on their ships. So I’m kinda just stuck here, wondering what to do. It’s a nice city though. Less crowded than Manehattan is. And the sun looks amazing on the horizon. It makes the sea all glittery and stuff!

So while I’m in my hotel room, thinking of stuff I could do, I’m just gonna list things you could do, okay? Great!

Make chocolate pudding.
Learn a martial art!
Go galloping in the woods.
Go camping with somepony.
Write some stories about things and stuff.
Make more chocolate pudding.
Designs some new dresses that are really out there.
Put on a play in Ponyville. (I dunno why, I just think you’d be a great director for some reason.)
Learn a new instrument!
Go on an epic adventure!

I saved the best for last.

Hope ya think of something,
Pinkie

P.S. It’s funny how you said you wanted a prank in your letter, huh?

OOC: The back of the letter has been stuck to the envelope.

Hiya Fluttershy,

Just gonna get the bad stuff out of the way first: I’m not allowed to race. Apparently I need a boating licence or something. I told all the official-y race ponies that I can fly a candycopter, but they just looked at me funny. So now I’ve got nothing to do until the race starts in a few days time. I’m kinda just wandering about, looking at shops and stuff. Baltimare’s nicer than Manehattan, but it’s smaller than Canterlot and not as pretty. It’s just… average.

Sorry. I just wanted to race so badly, y’know? Stupid rules.

But I better check out some of those handsome sailors. Sure, they’re not the same as the ones you saw, but they can’t be that different. Heehee! You better tell me what they really said about ya. ‘Cause it definitely sounds like I’d agree with them! Don’t worry though. I’m not Dash, so I won’t tease ya (much). I wonder what they’ll think of me? I think they’d totally get down with a fun mare like me.

Yus! That is what I shall do: drink rum with the sailors! Pretend we’re pirates or something. That’ll be fun.

Right! Let’s go through your safari friends, girl. I can totally give you advice on how to deal with them. I talk to loads of different ponies on a day-to-day basis, so I know what it’s like. Like, with Rainbow Dash I’ll prank a bunch of ponies, but with you I like the animal tea parties.

So, Sir Dusty might have some kids, right? And you like kids, so that’s something you got in common! Also, try asking what he did to become a ‘sir’. Unless Dusty is actually his middle name… that’d be funny. I wonder if pony sirs are different from griffon sirs… huh.

Candis sounds like a li’l bit of a grump. Okay, so I didn’t like Manehattan so much, but I still think Canterlot is really good fun! I’d just keep your distance. But you’re quiet, which is a pretty good skill to have around ~~poni~~ griffons like him. I’m sure he won’t go after ya all grump like.

Broch is… hiding something. He’s gotta be, right? It might not be a bad thing he’s hiding, but all that kinda stuff sounds suspicious. Unless he, like, had all his safari stuff stolen by animals once. But if that happens you could tell the animals not to do it, right? Maybe he just really likes his stuff.

Fabian sounds swell though! Not much I can say about him!

And if they think they’re good hunters, they’ve obviously never seen me when I’m hungry. You know I could totally tear down a house if it meant I’d get one cupcake. But luckily, I’m almost never hungry! Just hang in there, Fluttershy. I mean, do griffons eat grass off the ground like we can (in desperate times, at least)? They probably think veggies are totally yuck! You’re just two different things and that’s okay, ‘cause differences make life exciting.

Oh! And can you tell me if all Zebras rhyme? ‘Cause if they don’t, then Zecora is totally awesome-er. But even if they do, she’s still really cool and nice. She’s gone from evil enchantress to enlightened enchantress. Since she knows so much stuff.

Seriously though, if there’s one thing you do, make sure to find common ground with everypony else. Then you’ll mesh together a lot better, like a really good sandwich.

Talk to ya later!
Pinkie Pie

P.S. Hoped you liked my surprise! Teehee!

June 4th

Dear Pinkie,

It’s been kind of exhausting, I’m not gonna lie.

Manehattan was a bust, and Las Pegasus isn’t doing any much better. These oncologists... they told me the same stuff my dad told me, but I just can’t believe them. I don’t wanna believe them.

I’m sitting here in my hotel, drinking and writing, and I’m just drained beyond belief. I somehow feel lower than when Blaze first told me about the cancer. It’s not helping that he’s been fighting me this whole time. He didn’t want to leave Luna Pier, and we’ve done nothing but fight about this trip. When we’re not fighting about that, I’m yelling at him about my mom or Fluttershy or something that, as I’m writing this, seems like just the stupidest waste of time to fight about.

What am I gonna do, Pinkie? I don’t know, I just don’t.

Blaze is getting worse by the day, and really, after visiting these oncologists, and just all this fighting... I’m getting done with all this running and yelling. I just... wanna cry, Pinkie.

You have to believe me when I tell you how hard that is to just swallow my pride and admit that to you, Pinkie. Even you, somepony I know would never judge me, but it’s still hard all the same.

But even when things get harder, I can’t help but feel like you’re still a bright spot. I really can’t thank you enough, and I know I take our friendship for granted, but I appreciate you, Pinkie. I really do. I’ll hug and hold the crap outta you the next time I see you...

I remember when you threw that anniversary/birthday party thing for me, and I just kinda snubbed you for Cheese Sandwich. Looking back on it now, I was really a total jerk. You were being kooky yourself, but I gave you the wrong idea. I was wrong, Pinkie. And you ultimately (just because I’m sad, doesn’t mean I still can’t use my word-a-day calendar) made it about making me happy even when I stomped on your dream of throwing me an epic party.

I dunno why I brought that up, though. Maybe I’m just throwing myself a self-pity party. Well, at least there’s no shortage of booze. That’s a problem plenty of parties have.

So as I sit here in this hotel room while my dad sleeps for twelve hours out of weakness, I have to wonder just what I’ll do next. I think we might stay in Las Pegasus for just a while longer. traveling’s doing a number on Blaze, and he doesn’t need that. We’ll stay in this hotel, and heck, maybe I can find a little apartment or something closer to a clinic so I can really get my dad some help.

Las Pegasus was the place where my mom and dad hooked up and had me... maybe it means something to Blaze, and he and I can have that bonding I’ve been depriving myself (I’ve built up a few days on that word-a-day).

I’m sad, Pinkie. Really sad. But I’m also kinda... hopeful?

I dunno, there’s still so many feelings tearing me up, and it’s not help I’m kinda sauced. But now I think that there’s some hope I can make things right with my dad before he... before he dies.

And maybe I can find the strength to tell Fluttershy.

Wish me luck, Pinkie. I miss the everloving crap out of you,
Rainbow Dash.

June 6th

Dashie,

I wish I could be there with you right now. I miss you enough already, but knowing that you’re in pain makes it feel even worse ‘cause I can’t be there for you to make things feel better. Hug a pillow and pretend it’s me. (I won’t tell anypony, Pinkie Promise.) (If my writing looks kinda scruffy it’s cause I just stuck a cupcake in my eye.)

Please drink super carefully. Hangovers aren’t fun, just ask Berry Punch. I guess I shouldn’t be telling you this, but… I’m really worried, Dashie. And don’t start worrying about me worrying ‘cause then I’ll start worrying about you worrying about me worrying. The Pink is still as perky as ever, okay?

It’s just… I know you’ll get through this, ‘cause you’re Rainbow Dash, but… there’s a big difference between going through things alone, and going through them with good friends by your side, y’know? Next time we see each other, I’ll hug and hold the crap outta you too. I’ll tell you that everything’s gonna be okay, and then I’ll give you some cake and some cider. The Sweet Apple Acres kind. I can do that ‘cause I’m an Apple, but don’t tell AJ!

And if we see Fluttershy too, I’ll be there for her as well. If Angel lets me.

I know you said you appreciate me, but I appreciate you too! I love all the girls, but none of them really like the sorta things we do. Pranking with any of them is just a recipe for failure. They’re great gals, and I miss them real bad too, but pranking is our thing. You’re inspirational too! Everytime I see you flying in the air, I can’t help but smile because it’s just so… so… so fantastic! I dunno how to describe it, it just makes me really happy.

Maybe it’s because of your first Sonic Rainboom? I saw the world completely differently that day. It was like, er, like a big ol’ rock was blocking out the sun and you just nudged out of the way, and then all the flowers and animals came out to say hello, and everything looked so much better.

You get me, right? I hope so. ‘Cause sometimes not even I do. All I know is that if you weren’t you, then I wouldn’t be me. That’s kinda funny, right?

There’s a point to this, but I’m never that good at getting to them. My bad! But yeah, the point is that you’re amazing and you shouldn’t feel bad just for feeling sad. You’ll get over this, I just know it. And if these letters help you do it, then that’s A-OK with me!

Back to you and your Dad. Make his time with you the best times ever. I don’t think any of this fighting is helping any of you, but it’ll only take one conversation to patch things up again. That’s what’s so special about family. That’s why you feel a li’l hopeful: you want to bring on the good times again and you know they’ll happen.

If you can get back on nice terms, then maaaaaaybe I’ll tell you about my Granny Pie. She’s… not around anymore, but yeah, she was great. I love her so much, just like I love my parents, my sisters, my friends and you.

Hang in there, Dashie. Or maybe I should say ‘fly up there’? I think that fits better for you, don’tcha think? I think so. Now go out there and keep being awesome, but please take care too. And write back soon.

Here for you,
Pinkie Pie

P.S. Oh! Before I forget! Did you do some pranks? ‘Cause I stuck Fluttershy’s letter to the enveleope and I stuffed Rarity’s letter full of flour! I can’t wait to see their replies, heehee!

June 7th

Dear Pinkie,

Yeah, I wrote a fake letter in exploding ink and sent it to Fluttershy. She hasn’t written back, but hey, I imagine she looks doofy as hell (and there I go laughing at it again).

I’ve been too depressing lately, Pinkie. I’m gonna use this letter to talk about the good things going on for me right now. Sure, things with my dad are still tough, but I gotta try to stay positive, right?

Anyway, Las Pegasus is pretty cool. It was pretty easy finding a motel we can stay a while, although it’s nearer to these suburbs to the actual strip that ponies know about, but hey, it’s probably best that my dad’s not around all the city noise.

That said however, Las Pegasus is totally freaking holy crap imma crap myself awesome! There’s booze, girls, and gambling everywhere I look! If I could, I would just retire here and live in mindless hedonism rest of my life (thank you, word-a-day calendar, for bringing Rainbow ‘Hedonism’ Dash unto the world).

Listen, I know you’ve got places to go and ponies to meet, but don’t shy away from Las Pegasus. I wanna have fun with you because I agree with you. There’s something about us that’s different from the rest of the girls. I mean, I’ve got my thing with AJ, but she and I like to get rough with our competitions, and I’ll be the first to admit she kind of hurts every now and then.

Plus, she’s been all wrapped up in Twilight ever since they started going out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for them, and I hope they do well, but it really cramps mine and AJ’s style to have her nuzzle up to Twilight while we’re trying to gear up for a hoof-wrestling tournament. Although, maybe it’s been the motivation of sex that’s prompted AJ to ~~beat me the last six times~~ I am the undisputed champ of hoof-wrestling, and any statement to the contrary is a bold-faced lie.

Speaking of which, have Twilight and AJ talked to you at all? I wrote to the both of them weeks ago, and didn’t get any responses. My guess is that Twilight’s busy with trying to get the griffons and pegasi make peace (not an easy job, lemme tell you), and AJ’s whacked out on the best painkillers imaginable (mmm, I could go for some of those right about now).

But anyway, you’re a pony I can just hang out with to have fun. You don’t judge me or make me feel like I gotta make some bold statement or nothin’. You’re just all breezy and silly, and I love it. I wanna see you soon. If you, the life of the party, are in the city that is nothing but a party... epic is a bad word to describe how epic it would be (and now, suddenly, the word-a-day decides not to help me out. Life is stupid like that).

I’d want you to see my dad, too. He’s still getting bad, health-wise, but his mood has actually improved the last day or so. I think being here has kind of brought back some kind of spark from when he met my mom in this city. I dunno, maybe it’s just because I’m not dragging him around trying to find a doctor who will tell me he’s not gonna die. But yeah, this morning, we were at this Box-Mart out in the suburbs, and he got in one of those little scooter things (what’re those called, this is gonna bug me) and did donuts right in the store. It was the randomest damn thing, but it’s more life than I’ve seen in him for weeks.

We’re talking better, too. For the first time in a long time, Blaze actually feels like he’s my dad.

...And that’s just making it all the harder for me to tell Fluttershy.

Ugh, what am I gonna do about that, Pinkie? I know I promised to not depress you, but I know this is something I gotta face up to. The next time Fluttershy writes me a letter, I know I’m gonna have to respond, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep up the charade. Do I keep up the charade? Can she take the news?

Again, I’m just left in a funk of not knowing what to do. Man, I suck at this whole honesty thing.

Okay, I’ll stop being a downer. I’m sure you’ve got too much fun stuff going down to have the vibe killed.

Keep in touch, Pinkbooty.

Your comrade,
Dash.

Week Four

June 9th

Dashie,

I’m gonna get the bad stuff outta the way first. Fluttershy’s gonna find out at some point. She’s smart like that. It’s better if you tell her yourself… it’s just really awkward that she’s on a safari. ‘Cause, like, telling her now might ruin that whole experience for her, but if you don’t tell her until later, she might be really upset…

I guess it comes down to whether you want Fluttershy to be upset on her safari, or upset with you. And I don’t know which one you should go with, ‘cause you don’t need any ponies being mad at ya right now. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. But I know you’ll do the right thing.

Now, onto fun! I’m heading to Appleloosa right now, taking the train to Canterlot, through Ponyville. (We really need more train tracks in Equestria.) You’ll never guess what they’re doing in Appleloosa now. Pie fights! It’s a cheerful way of celebrating the friendship between the ponies and the buffalo! I think it’s great, although I’m not gonna try singing more songs over there. I do miss that saloon dress though…

Y’know what that means, right? Appleloosa is real close to Las Pegasus, so I can visit there next! Isn’t that great?! I might trek across the desert, lone ranger style, if it means taking less trains. Getting kinda bored of them now. I’ve heard lots of Las Pegasus though, especially from Vinyl. She’s done a few parties there before and it sounds craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazaaaaaay!

But before that, I wanna meet ya Dad and give you lots of cuddles. After we deal with those things, then we will dance, drink and deal out dosh! It’s gonna be awesome! It’s not really something the others would do, either. Twilight and AJ are a proper serious couple. Like, they gotta do everything practically. And I mean, everything. (Top tip: Don’t hide in the library while AJ and Twi are both there.)

And nah, they haven’t written back yet… that kinda sucks. I know AJ’s in hospital, but I thought Twilight would have some time at least. Either something happened, or she never got my letter, or… it’s really silly, but maybe they’re just writing to each other only. It’s good that they are! It’s just… nah, good for them.

You’ve written lots and lots though! And even though some of it’s sad, it still makes me happy ‘cause ya still wanna chat to me like we never left. I’m keeping all the letters I’m getting super safe, and then when I get back home I’ll put them in a book or something, along with the photos I’ve taken. I’ve gone through two cameras already, it’s insane!

Also, with the pranks, we should ramp them up bit by bit. And then, when I’m right with ya, we unleash the monster of pranks! Muwahahahaha—

One of the hotel workers told me to stop laughing so loudly. I don’t think he liked my evil moustache much. Pfft, no taste.

Although now that I think about it… maybe we should prank Fluttershy a bit less. It’ll look bad if you tell her now or not. Maaaaaaybe I can give her some fun pranks though. I dunno. You’ll have to be the judge. Judge Dash. That… sounds really cool.

Well, I’ll see ya when I see ya, Dashie. I’ll be with ya for as long I can manage, so don’t worry about slowing me down or anything. If anything comes up, lemme know. And if things get any worse, I’ll be over even sooner. But it sounds like things are improving! See if your dad can any tricks in his wheeler (I’m just gonna call it that). Just give him a helmet before he tries his luck on skate parks or something.

Until Las Pegasus, gal pal,

Pinkie

P.S. Don’t think I didn’t see it, Dashie. Pinkbooty? Heehee, I knew you were looking!

June 12th

Dear Pinkie,

How could I not look? It’s big and pink.

Also, the jiggles are almost hypnotic. It’s like a lava lamp.

But anyway, it’s funny, I thought being here in Las Pegasus would reignite some kind of fire-y party pony in my dad, but instead, we’ve just been hanging out around the motel and the nearby doctor’s office. It’s pretty mundane (gee, I wonder where that word came from), but at the same time... it’s just nice to have my dad back.

I mean, yeah, he’s sick, but he’s now the same stallion who used to pull little pranks or make silly songs out of objects that were surrounding him. And I think that has a lot to do with the ponies at this motel. Turns out a lot of lower-income ponies live out here, but hey, they seem pretty cool actually. There’s this dude named Honcho who can belly dance. And I don’t mean like the Saddle Arabian clothes and music shtick, I mean, he can literally get his beer belly to move and dance around like it has a life of its own (~~not unlike your pinkbooty~~).

Then there’s Agnes, and she can fit a hundred cigarettes in her mouth. I watched her do it, and dang if it isn’t pretty killer. Gross, but killer.

There’s also Chico and the Mane. Chico’s a tiny stallion, but that’s not the weird part. The Mane, his buddy, has an afro so big, that it’s completely overtaken his body, and now he is a rolling ball of hair. I am not even kidding. I haven’t even gotten a look at his face.

And again, that’s not even the weird part. Chico then jumps on top of The Mane, and uses his legs to roll him around like a dog on a ball you see at the circus...

Actually, I think all these guys are out-of-work carnies.

Either way, they’re doing wonders for my dad. It’s nice that he’s got other ponies to talk to, it’s not just me and him. I don’t have to go this alone.

Not that you haven’t been helpful, Pinkie, but it really sucks to just not have other ponies around, you know? Luna Pier was Deadsville, and in Manehattan, I was too busy hassling oncologists to really enjoy myself with other ponies... well, okay, I also splurged at that joke shop, but that was for the essential purpose of making ink explode in Fluttershy’s face.

But yeah, I’m really enjoying this kind of laid back atmosphere. When I’m not taking Blaze to the doctor or running some errands for him, we’ve been kicking back in this parking lot and hearing what these guys have to say and telling them about us. Blaze and I joke around, we laugh, and we just catch up on the old times he, Fluttershy, and I had.

I think I finally get all the namby-pamby stuff about us spreading friendship across Equestria. It’s not just these carnies I’ve made friends with, but it’s also my dad. For the first time in a long time, I can consider him a friend. And these boring little moments we have just screwing around are gonna be something I remember for a while.

...And they’re gonna be something I’ll really miss, too.

But anyway, Appleloosa, huh? Listen, if you’re still there, see how Little Strongheart is doing. Seemed like a nice kid.

And hopefully, you make it to Las Pegasus soon. These boring little moments are nice and all, but I need some excitement! I need some fun! I need me some Pinkie Pie.

Later,
Dash.

P.S.- If you knew I looked, why didn’t you stop me, eh? Eh?

Thought so.

Week Five

June 17th

Dashie,

So you like it when I bump and hump my pink rump? You are now reading this with the image of my tooshie wiggling around in your head. Have fun with that!

I’m totally jealous of you right now though. Carnies, Dashie! You met carnies! I love them! They’re so funny, but they usually treat each other like family. It’s really heartwarming, when you get to know ‘em.
I bet Honcho can belly drum like a total pro. Go ahead and ask him! Maybe I’ll teach you some rhythm (we seriously gotta work on your rapping skills, girl). Does Agnes light all the cigarettes in her mouth too? ‘Cause even if that sounds awesome, I don’t think it’s healthy. Unless she’s a built up an immunity like I have! Not to smoking sticks, but to sweets. Twilight says the amount of sugar I eat daily is probably enough to kill a buffalo—oh! I’ll get to them soon!

But we need to show The Mane and Chico to Rarity. Can you imagine how much she’d freak out? We also gotta compare manes, ‘cause mine has a life of its own sometimes!

I’m so glad you and your Dad are getting along. And you’ve made new friends too! That’s great! Cherish the good times, yeah? They’ll keep you going when you face the bad times. Happiness is cumulative. And no, I don’t have a word-a-day calendar, but you’ve been making me think about words lately. Bookworm. Tee-hee

A lot’s gone on over here. And that isn’t just because of the pie fight—that was awesome though so I’ll talk about that first. Basically they were, like, towers of pie. Not even joking! We needed towers of pie ‘cause this pie fight was huge. Everypony and buffalo was involved and we painted Appleloosa… er, creamy. In the end, there wasn’t really a winning side, since we all had fun!

Then I talked to Braeburn. I… I think he’s still getting used to the idea that we’re family now. I mean, it was kinda something Applejack and her close family decided on, but Braeburn and the other Apples didn’t really get a say in. He’s not being mean, I swear! It’s just… mmm… awkward. I don’t really know if I’ve been properly accepted yet or not… He’s the only Apple I’ve properly spoken to, so I don’t wanna imagine what the grouchy older Apples are like. I’ve been told off by Granny Smith before and it’s not nice. The novelty of that wore off fast.

So I just hung out with Little Strongheart and her family. The buffalo don’t move around so much anymore, but they still keep to their ways. They just trade and talk to the ponies a lot more, which was great to see. Some of the ponies go with the buffalo, and vice versa. I even saw a buffalo in a house! It’s a lot stranger than it looks, after you’ve seen them in their funny teepees.

I didn’t really talk to Strongheart about my family stuff. Especially when she was feeling so good. She also told me that she completed some sorta… buffalo trial thing not long after we left. She called it a vision quest. Basically, she went out into the wild all alone and starved herself! It sounds awful, but then apparently she got a vision and her spirit animal guide talked to her! I think they had a really deep conversation about her life ‘n’ stuff. It sounded pretty interesting. Makes me wonder what my spirit animal would be…

But, ugh, now I come to the icky part. I could leave right now and see you, but… if I do, that might leave the Apple here with a really bad impression. I gotta at least try to integrate myself with them, right? But then that makes me feel bad ‘cause I’d be leaving you. But if I went with you I’d feel bad for leaving my family… I wish Applejack would write back soon and tell me what to do. She knows them best.

Argh! My brain’s all a mess. A least there’s tons of that buffalo mushy stuff, whatever it is. I’m gonna stuff my face with it.

But I’m fine! Really. Just super confuzzled right now. Focus on having fun, yeah? Tell me if you need me with ya, and I’ll be right there. I might be anyway. I dunno. And if I keep my writing, I’m gonna get so confused I’ll start seeing cute li’l birds flying around my head or something.

Later, Dashie!
Pinkie

P.S. Maybe I didn’t stop you looking because I wanted you to look, huh? Huh?

Whatcha got to say to that?

June 19th

OOC: Letter arrives on the back of a postcard, the front of which is a painting of a palatial estate labeled “TAJ PALACE, MAREAKECH, MOROCCOLT.”

HRH Princess Twilight,

Forgive me, darling, but I do love writing that title! Realize you have your hooves full with Griffons, wanted to drop a friendly note. Neither seen nor heard from you in nearly a month; miss you and worry about you. Your lovely marefriend does too; seemed fine last I heard from her, if a bit stir crazy. Remember we’re here for you if negotiations get rough, dear. Shoulders to cry on, willing ears to vent to, wine cellars stocked and ready! Do keep in touch. Mail ponies will courier your messages to my room here in Moroccolt. Surprise! If inspiration will not come to moi, then I shall go to it - booked a cruise to the Mediterrhaynean coast! Architecture here is breathtaking, place oozes exotic flair. Locals very friendly - you’d love it. Mareakech a tad touristy but cosmopolitan. Must go, city’s open-air market opens at dawn. Write when you can, and be well.

Yours,
Rarity

OOC: Letter arrives on the back of a postcard, the front of which is a photo of ponies in elaborate flowing robes against an over-dramatic desert sunset.

Dearest Fluttershy,

If your travels happen to cross the Mediterrhaynean in the next several weeks, do please let me know – I’ve booked a cruise! Had the bits and the time and found the motivation. Stopovers in exotic locales, time for reflection and retail therapy. Can safely lie to myself and call it “fashion research,” but of course it’s just an escape. I accept that. Cruise ship is delightful; feels indulgent enjoying myself so much with just a change of scenery. First stop Moroccolt. Perhaps not your style - few wild creatures, save for some caged exotic birds in the market. Loud and bustling too, in a good way. Delicious nightlife. Fashion here is fascinating! Everypony goes robed against the desert wind, in broad bold colors set off by dense brocades. Always another layer, hinting at what’s underneath; little details only seen from too close. Or perhaps from just close enough? A Lady never tells! Stay safe, darling. Miss you.

Ever Yours,
Rarity

Dear Pinkie,

I’ll have you know I’m an awesome rapper. With the wickey-wickey this, and the chicka-chicka that. Word to your mother.

Also, how dare you call me a bookworm? I oughta come out over there and wallop your crown... aw, crap.

Anyway, that sucks about you and the Apples. I know it’s not easy to try and make things not-awkward with family (I’ve been trying for a month, now, and even some days, I feel like I fail).

My best advice would be to just be yourself. I mean, you’re Pinkie Pie, and I don’t see how they couldn’t love that, ya know? And I feel like if they really are AJ’s family, they’ll have no problem accepting you, eventually. Keep your head up, Pinkie. And hey, stay in Appleloosa as long as you need to. Things are still good here for the time being, so I’m not begging for you like I was like a week ago.

And I’m with you on AJ needing to writing back. Like I said before, must be on some killer painkillers (which the thought of is making me jones. I betcha Chico can hook me up with some primo stuff).

Also, a vision quest you say? Really, that just sounds like what happens when a pony takes mushrooms and wanders off in the desert without water. In fact, are you sure that’s not exactly what happened? In that case, I’ve gone on a vision quest at least once with a couple of my griffon friends (though, my ‘spirit animal guide’ was a dancing hot dog, so... Pinkie, never do mushrooms. Please).

Anyway, it’s getting late, so I gotta cut this one short. Just remember what I said, alright? The Apples will warm up to you, Pinks. I’d never lie to you, alright?

Stay classy,
Dash.

P.S.- Ah, but perhaps you only wanted me to look because you just love attention from me, eh? Don’t think I don’t notice how much you just love to sneak a squeeze on me. Two can play at this game, filly.

You are now spending the rest of the day imagining me doing squats, flexing my leg muscles, and toning my flanks to peak condition. You will also be doubtless I’ll be glistening with sweat. A gleam will even shine off my coat.

Have fun with that.

June 20th

OOC: Letter arrives on the back of a postcard, the front of which is stylized drawing of a lavish and complex tea ceremony.

Dear Pinkie,

Epic adventure, you say? Why, I do believe I shall! I’m writing from the deck of a cruise ship overlooking Mareakech, Moroccolt. Had no idea where I would go – walked into the travel agent’s office, picked a brochure at random, and off I went. Haven’t felt so daring since I debuted my Summer in Zebrica line a month ahead of schedule! Everypony here is quite friendly, even for a tourist trap. The desserts too are delightful: crunchy honey-dipped dough concoctions, little almond-and-sugar pastries, and crispy chips paired with more dips than I can count. Doubt I can mail a box of them to you; instead I shall use my feminine wiles to secure the recipe. Perhaps a more delicious endeavor than sampling the deserts? I did write to Coco, and I feel refreshed for it. I believe I’ll pay the darling a visit when I return. Despite its randomness, your advice as always was sage – thank you.

Yours,

Rarity

P.S. Thank you for the flour. I mean that - messy, but a perfect slice of Ponyville. Just like you.

OOC: Letter arrives on the back of a postcard, the front of which is a photo of a grand and colorful feast spread out over a long table.

Dear Applejack,

I trust this note finds you well. You have managed to relax a bit and enjoy being pampered by Canterlot’s finest, I hope? I realize you were a bit stir crazy when last you wrote – I can sympathize, darling, really – but you’ve worked hard all your life and a little relaxation certainly won’t dull your earthy instincts. Maybe visit the Royal Gardens, get some soil under your hooves? Been a month, haven’t heard a word from you. Don’t hesitate to write; mail couriers from the cruise line are superb. Oh, I didn’t tell you, did I, dear? I booked a cruise! Touring the Mediterrhaynean coast as we speak. A little work, a little pleasure, and exactly what I needed. You should see the food here, darling! Every dish an explosion of color, and oh, the spices! Wish I could send samples to you; perhaps I’ll pick up a cookbook instead. Rest and recuperate. Miss you, darling.

Yours,
Rarity

OOC: Letter arrives on the back of a postcard, the front of which is an aged, sepia-toned photo of a robed and turbaned Sultan and his court.

Darling Rainbow,

Afraid hotel trashing will have to wait, unless you plan on flying solo to Moroccolt. Felt rash and impulsive, boarded a Mediterrhaynean cruise; no regrets so far. Invigorating! Warm coastal seas, dry desert days, cool whispering nights. Daresay you might enjoy it, dearth (new word for your calendar) of pegasi here. Unless it promises catastrophe, they tend to accept whatever weather blows in off the dunes as "the Sun’s will." How’s your father? Better thanks to your gentle bedside manner, I trust. Perhaps you should take him on vacation! Few months in a dry climate might do him wonders. Certain he'll be doing stunts alongside you in no time. Several years’ separation may have given Fluttershy an urge for reconciliation too. The darling combines a kind heart with sense for such things. Do try to relax, Rainbow – rage and my sock-drawer alcohol supply won’t help you or your father.

Yours,
Rarity

P.S. Haven’t forgotten the cape. Will see what I can do when I get a bit more settled.

June 22nd

Hey Rarity,

It’s a good thing I made sure to have any mail sent to Luna Pier come here, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to respond. You can write here to Las Pegasus for the time being.

So yeah, I’m way ahead of you when it comes to vacationing, heh.

Well... not that much of a vacation, actually. A lot’s happened in the... month since I last wrote to you (man, between you, Applejack, Twilight and now Fluttershy, I’m beginning to think some evil creep is making us disappear... just so we’re clear, you haven’t been taken hostage by some evil organization, right?)

But anyway, I kind of got a bombshell dropped on me after I wrote to you. You see... my dad is dying. Terminal cancer. He doesn’t have that much time, left.

It was a really bad stretch after that. When I wasn’t yelling at him, I was crying like some kind of kid. I was a mess. Pinkie helped me through it, but I couldn’t stand to look at my dad. He had been keeping it from me, and I was just so angry.

After that, I tried to deny what was really happening. I actually dragged him out to Manehattan before we got here to see if an oncologist could tell me he was full of crap and that he could beat this... they didn’t say that. They told me the facts, and I was just madder than ever. I then took us to Las Pegasus to see if they could quell my worries (quell isn’t as cool as some of the other words in this word-a-day, but I can make it cool).

But then Fluttershy wrote to me about how my dad and mom met and hit if off in Las Pegasus, and it kind of brought me down to earth a bit. Now... we’re talking. We’ve been spending our days at this dingy motel with out-of-work carnies, but I gotta say, we actually have a relationship again. I go grocery shopping with him, take him to the clinic, and just talk with him about stuff. For the first time in the long time, I feel like he’s my dad. He’s getting worse in health, but better in mood. I’m still scared about when he’s gonna go, and I still need to tell Fluttershy (which I am not looking forward to), but for now, I feel like things are a little bit okay.

But that’s all a bunch of rambling. There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. Pinkie Pie.

Nothing’s wrong, just to let you know. Things with her have been great, actually. She’s been writing to me a lot and helping me get through some of the tougher parts of this whole thing with my dad. After that, um... we’ve been kinda-sorta flirting via letter. We’re mainly just talkingl about her jiggly pink butt. It’s not really anything that serious, and I think the two of us are mainly joking... but at the same time, I’d be lying if I said I never stole a peek at it from time to time.

Any day now, Pinkie Pie’s gonna come over to Las Pegasus to see me and my dad, and I’m just wondering how I should approach things. I feel like things’ll be a bit awkward seeing as how we’ll be actually seeing each other face-to-face for the first time in over a month.

...I’ve never slept with a friend before, Rarity.... okay let me rephrase that. I’ve never slept with someone who was my friend beforehand. I mean, Gilda and her griffon friends were kind of alternating and disposable, but I never thought of sleeping with one of you girls.

I dunno, you’re into all that heartsy-fartsy junk, how do you think I should approach this?

Other than that, have a good one in Morrocolt (or whatever), and don’t disappear again for a month, otherwise, I will seriously check and see if there’s some kinda changeling invasion or something.

Stay cool,
Dash.

P.S.- Oh right, that cape... eh, it seemed cooler a month ago, now? ...Eh.

Don’t send me a cape.

Author's Note

I'm sorry this is up a day late. I had a long day yesterday.

Week Six

June 23rd

To Dashie,

I oughta come over there and wallop you! And then sit on your head. You’d like that, wouldn’t ya? Teehee! You’re so silly, thinking you can outfox me. I catch up to ya everytime, remember? But I still love it when you try anyways. It’s fun!

So here’s the situation over here. I… kinda got a bit of a reputation from when we were here last time. Remember my song? (I thought it was good, but nopony else thought so, which sucked. But I think you were staring at my dress a lot. Pretty, huh?) Yeah, that combined with me spending time with the buffalo bros… all the old Apples are kinda wary of me. Think I’m some sorta loose cannon, y’know? And they’re so stuck in their ways.

Braeburn’s been pretty okay though, but there’s not much he can really do. He likes my energy and optimism, but he doesn’t want a family feud starting over this. I kinda agree with him. I’m just one pony, so I’m not… not really worth breaking a family over, y’know?

I thought I could try working on their orchards, but I really hurt my legs doing that. I’m just not cut out for that sorta thing, and that made all the old folk grumpier. I don’t think I’m on a winning streak at the moment, but maybe that means I’ll win lots in Las Pegasus?

I’d go there right now, cut this a loss, but…

Okay, this is gonna sound crazy, but you do crazy stunts all the time so you’d understand.

I’m thinking about going on a vision quest.

Think about it: it’d give me all the answers I need to fit in with the Apples better! Ooooonly there’s the teeny problem of starving myself. And I don’t think I could live with that. Can you imagine eating no cupcakes for days? It should be a crime, I tell you! A criiiime!

The buffalo would give me all the advice and things I need, but then I’d be on my own. In the wilderness, tumbleweeds and the occasional coyote as my only company. But then I might meet my spirit animal! I hope it’s something fun, like a seal. Seals are always fun.

So… that’s what I might do. Dunno yet, but I’m running out of options. And desperate times call for desperate measures! I thought about writing to Applejack again, but I can’t, ‘cause then she’d get all worked up. Either about me or her family. Or both. Either way, she doesn’t need that right now.

I’ll keep ya posted on what I’m gonna do, Pinkie Promise.

Talk to ya later, girl,
Pinkie

P.S. I laughed at that image ‘cause then Rarity strolled in and gave you a bubble bath! You looked so cute and grumbly, heehee!
Eating a cupcake right now, actually. But I’m kinda messy. It’s all over my mouth, and the desert heat is making me all sweaty like a piggie. Maybe if I just lick my lips…

June 27th

Rarity,

Suuuuuuper good to hear from you again! Sorry I didn’t reply sooner; things have just been craaaaaaaazay here in Appleloosa. But I’ll get to that later. It’s great that you’re going out into the world and doing exciting things! Sometimes a little bit of random is all ya need to kickstart something awesome! Make sure to try all the unique foods in Morrocolt and maybe even dive into a bit of the culture, huh? You’re already cultured, but imagine you with extra cultures! You would be stunning, I bet!

So yeah, as you probably can tell by now, I didn’t stick in Baltimare long. Fluttershy told me about these sailors she met once, and how they said really nice things to her and stuff, so I decided to see some sailors myself!

Except… well, I don’t think they were very nice sailors. Maybe Fluttershy’s just prettier than me though. She always gets noticed for that sorta thing. That’s good though! She needs all the confidence boosts she can get. I just gotta except that maybe I’m not as pretty as her.

Moooooooooooving on (yes, there are cows here), after a big fun pie war between the buffalos and the ponies here, I’m just chilling with my Apple folks. It’s pretty neat to be part of such a big family, y’know? Even if I’m distantly related and some of them might say I’m not. It’s cool though! I’ve always been super interested in the south. It’s always sunny, the views can be pretty impressive and there’s lots of cider! The looks on everypony’s faces when I beat them in drinking contests wherepriceless!

Tell me how your vacation goes, okay? I hope you have lotsa fun!

Hoedowning in the heat,
Pinkie

P.S. Glad you liked the prank! Was kinda worried you'd be grumpy, but looks like my risk paid off!

June 29th

Dear Pinkie,

I’m back in Ponyville. Because screw everything.

I’m done. Done with my dad, and done with his stupid dying.

Guess what? I still haven’t told Fluttershy about him, and he found out about this. We got into another fight. He yelled all this garbage about distancing myself from him, and... you know what? No. Screw it, it’s not important.

He got really sick and put in the hospital. Even when he came to, he was still pissed, and you know what? So was I. He kept information from me, so you know what? I should be as secretive as I want. But what was the kicker? What finally caused me to walk?

He said I failed as a daughter.

I failed? He failed. He failed as a father. I may have abandoned him a long time ago, but you know what? He let me run, and on top of that, I came back. So screw him.

I left his ass to rot, because like I said, I’m done. I’ve wasted too much time on this decaying bastard to care anymore. I mean, this whole summer has been a waste. None of our friends are writing letters because they’re probably having incredibly awesome lives, and what am I doing? Watching some washed-up arena hoofball player die of cancer. Whoop-dee-freaking-do.

I’m done. I am so done, I can’t even begin to tell you. I’m just gonna stay in Ponyville and drink myself into oblivion. Just forget all of this even happened, and when everypony comes back, I can move on with my life.

It just... it just all sucks. Why can I never be happy, Pinkie? Why do I always destroy myself?

It’s just all a mess. I can’t deal.

I just... can’t.

Dear Fluttershy,

Guess what? Blaze is dying. Cancer.

Want my advice? Move on, already. Because trust me, the Buccaneer Blaze we knew and loved died a long time ago. So I'm in Ponyville while his ass rots in a Las Pegasus hospital. He doesn't deserve better.
If you’ll excuse me, I have a me to drown in liquor.

Signed,
Dash.

Week Seven

July 4th

Pinkie stuck out like a pear in an apple orchard. Not that she didn’t normally, being a pink party animal and all, but now she was more so. A big sombrero kept her wild mane contained and her eyes were protected by sparkly blue shades. A rubber ring in the shape of a green dragon with multicolored polka dots was around her frame, a few bags packed with who knows what hanging on her side.

Braeburn stood next to her on the Appleloosa train station. If he was weirded out by her get up, he wasn’t showing it. “You sure you gotta do this?”

“Yes,” Pinkie replied in an utter serious that threatened the integrity of her outfit. “The letter sounded bad. Real bad.”

Braeburn frowned in concern. “Well, I trust you’re doing the right thing.” He looked back towards the town proper. “But I don’t think everypony’s gonna agree with it. They might just see it as you givin’ up on them.”

Pinkie looked down, the shades masking her expression. “Wasn’t like I was ever gonna get along with all the Apples anyway.” A small smile appeared and she wrapped a foreleg around Braeburn. “You’ve been great though! Best ‘cuz ever.”

The stallion let out a small chuckle, returning the hug. “You’ve definitely kept things eventful ‘round here. You’ll always be welcome, least to me.”

“Thanks, Braeburn,” Pinkie said, just as the train to Ponyville pulled into the station. With a loud exhale of steam, the doors swung open and ponies began to get aboard.

Pinkie made a few steps forward, making sure she was on the train (it was a bit of a tight squeeze getting in), then turned back to face Braeburn. “I’ll be back! This is just something I really need to do right now.”

Braeburn nodded. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Pinkie. When you’ve helped out your friend, we’ll be waiting, right back in…”

The two of them flailed their forelegs in the air, at the same time shouting, “Aaaaaaaaaaaappleloosa!” The pair shared a laugh, before the conductor made the last call to get aboard.

“I know you’ll do good, Pinkie. You’re a great pony, after all,” Braeburn said.

“Yeah…” Pinkie gazed down the track, many miles leading to Ponyville. “I just hope I’m not too late.” She took off her shades, staring back at Braeburn, her eyes hinting at guilt. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything, but—”

“I ain’t mad, Pinkie. Sometimes these things just happen.” He flashed a wide grin at her. “I’ll try to find a time to explain to the elder Apples when they ain’t so cranky.”

Pinkie giggled, then squeaked in surprise when the door slammed shut on her. She hurried to a window and stuck herself out, waving at Braeburn. “Thanks for everything, ‘cuz! Be safe, ‘kay?”

Braeburn tipped his hat politely, then started waving too. “Don’t get into too much trouble, now.”

“I won’t!” Pinkie paused. The train puffed, huffed and slowly pulled out of the station. “Much! Byeeeeeeeeee!” She frantically waved at Braeburn for as long as she could see him, right until he was just a small yellow speck on the horizon. Then she sat in her seat and frowned thoughtfully. She dug in her saddlebags and found the last letter Dash had sent.

It hadn’t been an easy decision to come back but Rainbow had sounded worse than ever. And with all of their friends on vacation, Pinkie was the only one who could come to her aid. She could forget about her troubles with the Apples for now—Braeburn’s friendliness was the exception, rather than the norm—and focus on what was right.

Hopefully she wasn’t too late.

Ponyville felt much emptier without her best friends around. Sure, they were still many many friends around for Pinkie to catch up with, but they weren’t her besties. Rainbow was presumably stuck in her cloud home, drinking herself sick, so the town even felt a little less awesome than usual.

Pinkie returned to Sugarcube Corner first, for a quick catch up with the Cakes and Gummy, as well as giving them gifts she had bought on her adventures. She couldn’t stay long though and she told them a vague summation of what was going on, leaving out the private details.

Dashie’s dad had cancer and it didn’t look like there was much chance for him making it. It had put Dashie’s relationship with him to the limits, but for a while they were getting along and Pinkie thought at least a little good had come from it.

But then life had one more sucker punch for them. Another argument had torn down all the goodness that had built up between Dash and her dad. It all ended up with her dad calling her a failure as a daughter. Dash decided to call it quits and flew straight back home.

Where she was now drinking herself to sickness.

It had taken a lot of helium, but Pinkie managed to get enough balloons to float her up to Dashie’s home. Her house was so awkward, always hanging in the sky. Yeah, she was a pegasus, but that didn’t mean the clouds could be a little close to the ground sometimes. If anything, the house seemed higher up than normal. Pinkie didn’t need to guess a reason why.

Pinkie’s hooves touched the cloud patio outside the front door. And they didn’t fall through. She kept facing forward, her eyes never trailing down. Doing that would break the illusion and as long as she was here, she’d have to trick the clouds into believing she was a pegasus. She cut the balloons off her and trotted up to the front door.

Before she could knock she heard Dash’s muffled voice from behind the door. It sounded tired.

“If it’s the pizza guy, just leave it on the mat. Money’s under the rock by the door.”

“It’s me, Dashie,” Pinkie replied.

There was no response for what seemed like forever, but then...

“...Leave. Please, just leave me, Pinkie.”

“And leave you all alone in there, drinking yourself stupid? Nuh-uh, missy,” Pinkie stated, shaking her head. “If you don’t open up, I’m gonna force my way in there.”

What sounded like a loud sigh penetrated the walls. “Pinkie Pie, I’m not even drinking that much. I just... need to be alone. Please. If you’re really my friend, you’ll listen to me when I say I need to be alone for a while.”

There was a long pause between the two, as Pinkie struggled to think of what to say. “But… I wanna see you.”

Another pause, but then, another sigh. “I know you do, Pinkie, and believe me... I just need to be by myself. I don’t feel like I can look at anypony.”

“You need somepony, Dashie. Maybe not me, but somepony. Anypony.” Pinkie walked up to the door and put a hoof on it. “I can tell you’re hurting.”

“Uh hey.” Pinkie turned at the sound of the squeaky voice to see a greasy, teenaged stallion holding a box of pizza. “I, like, got a large, uh, mushroom and soy pizza for, uh, Rainbow Dash.”

Dash was quick to respond. “Money’s under the rock. Leave the pizza on the mat.”

“Oh, okay.” The pizza guy placed the box next to Pinkie and proceeded to ignore the conversation as he collected his dues.

The smell that came from the box was incredibly enticing. Pinkie’s eyes were locked onto it and her stomach began rumbling. “Mhm-hm. That sure does look like a tasty pizza!”

“Don’t touch it,” Dash curtly retorted.

Pinkie licked her lips. “But I am feeling pretty huuuuuungry.” She bent down and started opening the box, making sure she was as loud as possible.

“Pinkie, I swear to Luna, if you touch that pizza, I’ll... well, I don’t really wanna come out there, but seriously, leave me to my pizza in peace. I beg of you.”

A few seconds later, she could hear the sounds of eating outside her door.

The door slammed open to the sight of a disheveled, bloodshot-eyed Dash. “PINKIE PIE!”

“Hi, Dashie!” Pinkie innocently replied, smiles all around. The pizza hadn’t even been touched.

Dash’s eyes twitched before eventually shutting tight as she sighed, rubbing her temples. “You... are not gonna leave me alone, are you?”

Pinkie shook her head. “Nopey dopey!” She held up the pizza right in front of Rainbow’s face, the smells wafting into her nose. “Here’s your pizza.”

Dash quickly grabbed the pizza and sighed again. “Well... come in, I guess.” She turned and dejectedly trotted into her house. “You can bum a slice or two.”

Feeling her victory, Pinkie bounced in behind Dash to see the state of her friend’s home. While it wasn’t the practical warzone she imagined, the presence of some empty hard cider bottles strewn about near the coffee table was pretty disconcerting.

“Did you down all those in one night?” she asked, pointing at them.

Dash plopped the pizza box on top of the coffee table before finding a seat on the couch. “I didn’t try to drink myself to death, Pinkie.” She rubbed her temples again. “But... yeah, I guess I might have gone a bit overboard. Good news was that I stayed in and didn’t try to do anything stupid. Silver lining, right?” Dash followed that with a sarcastic chuckle.

“Yeah, that’s something at least.” Pinkie sat herself down next to Dash and wolfed a slice of pizza. “So I’m just gonna hang around and be here for ya and stuff. We should probably talk about,” she waved a hoof in the air, “y’know.”

Dash grimaced. “You really didn’t have to do that, Pinkie. Look, I’m sorry I scared you, but...” yet another sigh. “I just need to be alone. There’s really nothing you can do for me.”

“That’s what you think. And right now, you’re all sad, so that’s messing up the way you see things.” Pinkie gave her a hopeful smile. “I mean, you wouldn’t have written to me in the first place if you didn’t think I could help, right?”

Dash contorted her mouth before replying “I... needed to vent. You’re good for venting at.” She chuckled. “You never get mad when I say something stupid.”

“‘Cause getting mad wouldn’t solve anything,” Pinkie said, nodding sagely. Then she threw out her forelegs and wrapped them around Dash. “Hug time.”

Dash grinned and shook her head. “Oy vey, Pinkie.” She couldn’t contain her chuckles. “Come on, seriously. Stop it.”

“No,” Pinkie replied simply, somehow sucking up another slice of pizza so she didn’t have to let go of her friend.

Dash saw this and didn’t know how to reply, opting to break from Pinkie’s clutches and grab herself a slice of pizza. “What’s with all of us being so stubborn?” She took a bite, and between chews, continued. “I mean, Applejack’s Applejack. I’m me. Twilight goes crazy over stuff and can never come down to earth. Rarity’s got the same problem, only over other stuff. And you can’t seem to take no for an answer. I mean, jeez, how do other ponies deal with us?”

Pinkie proudly put a hoof on her chest. “I’m only stubborn ‘cause I care soooo much!” A teasing smirk then appeared on her face.

Dash frowned. “Maybe you care too much.” Another sigh came as Dash’s eyes saddened. “I know you wanna help, Pinkie. I get that, and I think it’s awesome to have a friend like you... but you don’t wanna get wrapped up in this... crap I’ve gotten myself into. It was a mistake to tell you in the first place. You should be out having fun and screwing around, not watching me act like a depressed loser while scarfing down my pizza.”

“Trust me, it’d hurt me a lot more if I wasn’t involved. And stop calling yourself a loser. You’re not that and you’re definitely not anything your dad would’ve called you,” Pinkie assured.

Dash shook her head rapidly. “That was...” She paused to exhale. “A whole crazy thing. It was both of us at our worst and... I just wanna forget it if you don’t mind. I’ve got enough on my plate with what I said to Fluttershy.”

Pinkie slowly blinked in comprehension. “What did you say to her…?”

“I finally told her, and... I could have done it in a nicer way. Basically told her to forget about him and that he didn’t deserve to be mourned.” At that point, Dash refused to make eye contact. “This was the stallion who practically raised her, Pinkie. If she never talks to me again, I don’t blame her.”

Pinkie brought a hoof to her face, sighing deeply. “Dashiiiie, that’s… that’s really careless! Fluttershy’s all alone in the wilderness with strangers, she doesn’t need that kinda stuff from you!” Her brow furrowed and she pushed the pizza away. “Come on, you’re gonna write another letter to her right now.”

Dash frumped. “Alright, here’s how it goes: ‘Dear Fluttershy, go ahead and cry over Blaze’s death, but don’t expect him wanting to see me anymore, because I screwed up major.”

“You can do better than that,” Pinkie said, then peered around searchingly. “Where’s your word-a-day calendar? You can use that.”

“Look, Pinkie...” Dash stood up and stretched her wings. “I have got a loooooot of issues to work out with my dad, and I don’t even think they can be resolved. So unless something magically pops out of nowhere that changes my mind on this, the best thing I can do is just wait this out and try to move on with my life.”

A knock immediately came at the door. Dash and Pinkie shared a perplexed look before Dash flew over to answer.

“When opportunity knocks…” Pinkie called out after her.

Pinkie couldn’t make out who or what was at the door or what was being said, but once the door shut, Dash returned with an absolutely stunned look on her face.

“...This is from my father.”

Pinkie got up and walked over, standing right next to Rainbow. “Ya wanna open it?”

“Uh... I’m not sure.” Dash wobbled to the couch and plopped down in her original seat. “...You think you can open it?” She reached out the envelope to Pinkie.

She took it and sat back down, holding the letter as if it were a priceless vase. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

“You wanted to help out.” Dash gave a shaky grin. “I kinda need your help on this.”

Pinkie nodded. “Gotcha.” She tore open the envelope, being surprisingly delicate not to damage the letter inside. She unfolded it and spread it across the table, so both of them could read.

Dear Rainy,

I failed you, and I’m sorry I made you think I thought otherwise.

...Now that I got that part out of the way, I want you to haul your ass back over here.

Heh. Sorry, but like you, I’m probably going through a lot of emotions, and it’s hard to keep consistency. Luna knows how much we’ve blown up at each other the last month and a half.

I’m in pain, Rainy. Not just physically, but emotionally. You’re my kid, and you made a mistake. And I can’t help but feel like it’s also my fault. I should’ve been the one to tell Fluttershy... but like you, I was scared.

I’m scared, kid. I truly, honestly am. Not for myself, but for you two. I haven’t seen either of you in a long time, and I’m afraid of dying alone. When the doc told me what was happening, I railed and screamed and broke shit. I mean, I’m barely middle-aged, and already, I was alone in an old lake town and dying. I used to be an arena hoofball stud turned superdad, and now this? I didn’t take it well, at all.

And maybe that’s why I was so hesitant to tell you about my health when you first came to Luna Pier. You’re very much my daughter, Rainy. You and I don’t take bad news very well, and I thought you might up and run away.

Thankfully, you didn’t, and I’m so grateful you had been taking care of me, but... I blew it. I blew it when I blew up at you the other day, and now I’m paying the price by swallowing my pride and telling you all this.

I need you, kid. And I need Fluttershy. I’ve already written to her about it like I should have, so please don’t worry about that part. Just come back to me, Rainy. I need my little girl.

The docs here says I need to get out of Las Pegasus and back to a more quiet locale, so Honcho and the others pooled together some money to get me a train ticket back to Luna Pier. For the record, they really miss you, too.

The hospital also said I need more accessible medical care 24/7, so, and this is the really hard part... I’ve also written to Fluttershy’s parents.

Yeah, I know, I don’t like it either, but that bastard and bitch are nurse practitioners, and I really don’t have the money to spend, so I know they’ll do it for free. After all, they owe me after I raised their damn kid, and...

Ugh. My blood is boiling, Rainy. If nothing else, please come back to Luna Pier so that I don’t have to suffer alone with them. (Maybe even kick their asses for me, if need be)

I’m sorry, kid. I really, truly am. You deserved better from me, and I said some things I can’t take back. Just to make it clear though: you did not fail as a daughter. I did as a father. Both for you and Fluttershy.

...But now, I just want you both with me.

But if you’re too angry... I understand. No matter what, kid, I’ll always be proud of you. I’ve lived a pretty good life, and if there’s anything truly great I gave to this world, it’s you.

If you can find it in your heart, though, I hope to see you soon.

Your father,
Buccaneer Blaze.

After she had finished reading, Pinkie gazed at Dash, somewhat expectantly. She never said a word, merely waiting for some sort of reaction.

Once again, Dash sighed. She rose up and cracked her neck, getting a new, determined look in her eyes. “So... wanna help me pack?”

Pinkie’s eyes flashed full of joy and hope. “Do I?!” She hopped from her seat and zoomed right into Dash’s room, getting started.

Dear Fluttershy,

You might have heard a few things, and you might not. All I know is I made a mess of things, and it’s time I start setting it straight.

I’m dying, kiddo. Terminal cancer.

I tried everything. Heck, Rainy tried everything.

I’ve known for a while, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, kiddo. I wanted you and Dash to both be with me to tell you, but she says you’re out on safari (how’s that going, by the way?).

I’m not gonna lie, Shy, it’s kind of a scary thing. I haven’t even made a good dent into my forties, and already, I look like I’m in my sixties. That luscious rainbow mane of mine is fading to grey and darker shades of grey (if they’re chunks that haven’t fallen out, yet). I’m trying to put it off for as long as possible, but I know it’s coming.

I just want you to know that whatever happens, I don’t want you to be angry with Rainy. She’s been helping me so much this summer, and it’d be a shame to make her feel guilty for not telling you sooner. It’s my fault for being so cowardly.

I am so proud of you, kiddo. You know that, right? Rainy showed me pictures of you two and your friends. You kids have grown up so fast, it’s kind of trippy, but at the same time, it makes me so happy to see that you’re doing well.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Fluttershy. There are things that I might have done differently if I had another go at them, but there’s never been a doubt in my mind that the one thing I don’t regret is raising you and Rainy.

I don’t know if you feel the same, but I always considered you just as much my daughter as Rainy. I saw you through the good times and bad, and watched you grow into the beautiful mare you are today, and it makes me sad to have kept you in the dark about my condition for so long. Just know that I love you so much, kiddo. I hope to see you before I pass, but if I don’t, just know that I know you’re one of the best things to ever happen to me.

Don’t forget about me, Shy. I’m not gonna forget you anytime soon.

With love,
Buccaneer Blaze.

Week Eight

July 10th

Dash coughed as what seemed like fire filled her lungs. Her eyes squinted trying to look through the smoky room .

“You know, Dad, those come in food form, right? It’s the chemical stuff that you need, not the smoking part.”

Blaze grinned at his daughter. “But, Rainy, I’m getting... blazed.” He broke into a fit of uncontrollable laughter before coughing in pain.

Dash shook her head. “If you weren’t a dying old stallion, you’d get curb-stomped, mark my words.” Despite herself, she couldn’t help but grin a little.

Her father merely retorted with warm laughter.

Life in Luna Pier had settled in relatively well in the week since Dash made her return to her father. In fact, more than settled, life overall seemed to have been restored entirely. Perhaps it was just the reconciled emotions, or even just the presence of another pony, but the emotional baggage Dash had once had with her father’s imminent passing had departed her. All that was left to do was care for him on the last leg of his life, and help him enjoy it to its fullest.

She definitely had Pinkie Pie to thank for that new outlook. In she came, balancing a plate loaded with multicolored cupcakes. She blinked and took a couple of quick sniffs. “Wow, it seriously smells just like Vinyl’s apartment after one of her crazy parties.” Setting the plate down near Blaze, she grinned at Dash. “Hope Dashie doesn’t get too hiiiiigh.”

Dash snorted. “What am I, twelve?”

Blaze nearly choked on his cupcake. “Twelve, Rainy? Really?”

Dash shrugged. “Yeah, really.”

Blaze shook his head. “Oh, you kids starting younger and younger, I swear,” he muttered under his tired breath before taking another satisfied bite. “Although,” he spoke through chewing. “I guess I’m not one to judge.” He swallowed before giving a smirk. “But, of course, I have a medical excuse.”

“We’ve been over this, Dad. There’s zero reason for you to be causing a fire hazard in your own living room.” Dash picked up one of the cupcakes and took a lengthy whiff before chowing down. “Pinkie, I can’t tell you how much I miss these friggin’ cupcakes.”

“I knew I should’ve sent some in the mail,” came a muffled voice. Apparently Pinkie had decided to wear a gas mask while in the smoky room.

Blaze cocked an eyebrow. “...Kid, where’d you get the–”

“Dad,” Dash interjected as she hurriedly shook her head. “Not worth asking.”

Blaze simply shrugged as he reclined back into his easy chair. His eyes were becoming noticeably bloodshot. “Now, Rainy, what I wanna know is how does a kid like you, uh... you know, suddenly care about, like, fire exits and stuff.”

“Fire hazards?” Dash asked.

“Yeah, yeah, that, that. Mind’s a... mind’s starting to drift in my dear old age.” He started to inexplicably snicker.

“Uh-huh. Old age,” Dash retorted in monotone. “Well, when you’re sleeping at some griffon house party, and have to get out and run for your life because some idiot set the whole apartment ablaze because of one lit cigarette, you’re a little more careful about stuff like smoking indoors.”

“Y’know what your problem was, right?” Pinkie asked, mask now off so Dash could see her smug face in all its glory. “It was a griffon party, not a Pinkie party.”

“Well, nothing beats a Pinkie party, obviously,” Dash said as she returned the grin. “...Well, okay, probably a Cheese Sandwich party, but still.”

Blaze’s eyes shot wide open. “...You crazy kids have parties devoted to grilled cheese? ...Man, I’m hungry for one, now.” He started giggling again.

Pinkie laughed along with him. “No, silly. Cheese Sandwich is a pony, not grilled!” She waltzed over to Dash and slowly inserted a cupcake into her mouth. “And I thought we agreed to never ever ever compare our parties again ‘cause they’re both, like, equally super amazing fun.”

Dash swallowed the cupcake in one bite. Once she gulped the pastry, she looked to Pinkie with a smirk and replied, “Yeah... but only his were epic.”

The party pony narrowed her eyes, leaning forward so her muzzle connected with Dash’s. “You reeeeeeally wanna go there?”

Her smirk turned to a grin. “Dunno, maybe I wanna push your buttons.”

“The only button you can push is my belly, and I ain’t giggling wildly over here,” Pinkie said. After a pause she decided to bat Dash’s ear playfully.

“Okay then,” Dash said as she placed her hoof on Pinkie’s belly button, shoving her to the other end of the couch with a bounce. “Are we laughing, now?”

Pinkie’s tail flicked up, covering her preciously vulnerable tummy. “Please don’t tickle me, Dashie, I can’t take it!” Her eyes wandered to the stallion in the room. “Not in front of your high as a kite stuck in your house daddy, anyways.”

Blaze looked at both mares in utter confusion. “...There something, I’m missing, here? Rainy, what’s your deal with this girl?”

Dash shrugged. “She’s my friend, Dad, what of it?”

“Uh... nothing’s, like, of it.” His eyes shot wide open again. “But what if, like, what was for it, or even to it.”

“Either you’re smoking too much, or you are the biggest lightweight I know,” Dash proclaimed. “My own father.”

“Oh, feh,” he responded with a hoof wave. “Gag me with a spoon.” He looked to Pinkie and asked, “Do the kids still say that? Used to be said a lot in my day... woof. Starting to sound like an old fogey. Speaking of which, they say that one, either?”

“Not really anymore, Mr. Blaze,” Pinkie replied, shaking her head.

“Great Scott,” he breathed a sigh. “This is heavy.” Blaze grinned and looked to Pinkie and Dash again, but was met with blank stares, causing him to frump. “Oh come on, Rainy, I showed you that one like a hundred times!”

“Not gonna lie, Dad, I probably slept through all of those riveting movie nights,” Dash responded dryly.

“And again with your fancy new words,” Blaze sighed.

“Y’know, I’m starting to think Dashie has a sleeping problem. I mean, she naps all the time!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Although it is cute seeing her try to make a li’l nest in a cloud.”

Dash recoiled in mild horror. “You... watch me when I sleep?”

“From what Pinkie tells me, Rainy, you sleep in broad daylight.” Blaze inhaled another puff from his joint. “I guess you might say that, in the sunlight, you get...”

“Don’t. You. Dare.” Dash began crumpling up a nearby newspaper as she grit her teeth to the limit.

Blaze snickered. “Baked!” He laughed and laughed as a wad of newspaper hit him square between the eyes.

Pinkie giggled loudly, clutching her stomach. “Oh wow, Dashie, you never told me your dad was such a great comedian!”

Dash pointed to her friend with a humorless expression. “You will not encourage him.”

“I dunno…” Pinkie moved towards Dash, sporting a wide grin. She went close to her ear and whispered, “I’m sure we could bake up some trouble.”

Dash growled.

“And,” Blaze interjected after another hit. “If we get famous, Rainy might go green with envy.”

“We’ll weed out the competition, for sure,” Pinkie added, barely suppressing her laughter.

The teeth began grinding.

“Our act will perform at only the best joints.”

“We’ll reach new highs like never before!”

The eye began twitching.

“We’re ganja make it to the top, Pinkie.”

“Being a bit blunt there, aren’t ya, Mr. Blaze?”

“Well, that’s only because I believe in us so much, kid. Our act is completely dope, and–”

“SHUT UP! THE BOTH OF YOU!” Dash jumped on top of the coffee table, posed like a bull ready to charge. Her wings were flared and stretched to their very limit, side to side. Between her heavy breaths, she gritted through her teeth: “Puns. Aren’t. Funny.”

“Okaaaaay,” Pinkie chuckled, forced and awkward. “I think maybe the fumes are messing with ponies’ heads just a teeny bit.”

“Yeah, Rainy,” Blaze chuckled as he took another hit of his dwindling joint. “I think you might be going on a trip.”

Dash merely feel to the floor in defeat as her father and friend continued giggling.

Our Cast

Our Cast
Twilight Sparkle (by bats)
After an action-filled spring where Twilight found her purpose as a princess, she hoped to settle into her new role surrounded by her friends. Unfortunately, the Princess of Friendship is needed outside of Ponyville. Tensions between the pegasi and the griffons have always run high, and with a group of griffon dignitaries visiting Cloudsdale, Twilight is off to act as arbiter and liaison between the two groups. She's nervous to go it alone when her friends have been so important to her success in the past, but she's hopeful she can help bring the two groups together to forge strong and lasting ties and have enough time for other pursuits, like studying the city's unique architecture up close. Also, there's the little thing of maintaining her still-new relationship with Applejack as it temporarily becomes a long distance one. Good thing Twilight likes writing letters.

Applejack (by bookplayer)
Applejack wasn’t happy that her friends were leaving Ponyville for the summer, especially given her newly romantic relationship with Twilight, but she had hoped to spend her days distracted by work. Just her luck, a back injury put an end to that plan; no work or physical activity allowed all summer. After some long debates with Macintosh and Twilight over what technically counted as “work” and “activity” around the farm, Applejack was outvoted and shipped off to the castle in Canterlot, to be cared for by a staff of ponies who would ensure that she wouldn’t have to so much as lift a hoof all summer. She’s as far away from useful work as she can get, now all Applejack has to do is find some way to keep from losing her mind.

Rainbow Dash (by Jake R)
Dash found it odd to receive a letter from her father asking she come visit him in the sleepy lakeside town of Luna Pier. However, the realization soon hit Dash that she had not seen the old-timer in quite a few years, so a visit might not seem like such a bad idea. It seems simple: Dash goes to her dad’s lake house, spends a week performing typical daughterly obligations, rekindles a recently faded relationship, and then leaves to enjoy a rockin’ summer. However, unexpected circumstances force her to prolong her stay in this boring town with her aging father. How in Equestria is Dash gonna keep her sanity? Well, writing to her friends might help...

Rarity (by TheLastBrunnenG)
Traveling the world in impeccable style, hobnobbing with the elites of fashion and dazzling society's finest, wooing the hearts (and wallets) of ponies with too much money and absolutely nothing to wear - is this not the expected life of high fashion's rising star? Perhaps, though not apparently for Rarity, who finds herself stuck in quaintly boring little Ponyville as her friends head away and abroad for a summer of fun, adventure, and discovery. Finding all of those now sadly lacking in her backwater hometown, Rarity waits. She waits for some fashion house or desperate-to-impress noble to need, to require, no, to demand her expertise - and no letter comes. She waits for Manehattan and Canterlot to call to her, in soul if not in ink, and hears nothing but roosters and crickets and hawkers in the farmers' market. So what's a bored and increasingly anxious fashionista to do when waiting for a summons which may never come? Why, surely a Lady wouldn't do something positively rash - would she?

Fluttershy (by Peroth E)
With the fifth wannabe-conquerer of the world put in a corner, Fluttershy has decided to expand her horizons beyond Equestria. She's volunteered to join a safari that is going to take her and a group of experts beyond the borders of her home to new territories full of animals she's never seen before! While scared, Fluttershy has taken her lessons to heart and has bucked up to face new challenges head on, and learn everything she can about the exciting and possibly dangerous beasts not found in the safety of her home.

Anxiety is high, since this will be the furthest she's ever been from her friends or her home, but their agreement to trade letters over the summer has soothed some of her worries. Deep down, she hopes her safari guides will accept her as a friend, but what she finds the most terrifying is the possibility that they won't.

Pinkie Pie (by JaketheGinger)
She had been saving up for this for years and years and years, but now she’s finally ready. The Pinkie Pie party pilgrimage had officially begun! The spirit of cheer is alive throughout all of Equestria, and Pinkie intends to spend her summer soaking it all up. She’ll travel across the land, visiting many different towns and trying to fit in as many parties, festivals, and celebrations as she can. It promises to be an electrifying experience and with her friends by her side (albeit in paper form), it won’t be so lonely after all! But can Pinkie keep up with it all? Or she has bitten off more than she can chew? (Or as is usual in her case, straight up swallowed.)