Observations into ponies: By Midnight Starfall

Pegasi: The winged ponies...possibly the most different of the three base species.

You're probably wondering why I'm starting with these instead of...say...Unicorns, which I have first hoof knowledge of, or Earth Ponies, which I literally grew up with. Well, to answer your question 1. I like a challenge sometimes 2. I don't know.

Now, Pegasi are unique in two obvious ways, one being their famous wings, that allow them to sour high above the cloud barrier, above all of our heads...a feat that everypony dreams of doing, even the most skilled of Unicorns can't match the flight of the Pegasus. Some simply use their flight as a way to travel without getting hooves dirty, others enjoy pushing their limits, stunt flyers...one example being The Wonderbolts, world famous for being the best flyers in all of Equestria, though there is one who, according to Ponyville, is even faster...

"Where is she?" I grumbled to myself, I'd searched town twice over today and my legs were starting to ache, you'd think the town weather manager would be easier to find, I was about to call it a day and head home when I heard a distant bang, looking around for the source I was relieved to find a streak of rainbow across the sky...and not another town threatening disaster. Hoping the streak would come closer to the ground I headed where I thought it might land in as fast a gallop as my hooves would take me.

"Okay this must be where she came..." I grumbled again, my hope replaced with frustration, I was on the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, there the rainbow streak should've touched down...but there was no signs a Pegasus had even been there, not a single feather

"Why hello there...can ah help you?" the voice came from out of nowhere, taking me off guard...and the accent was very...not Ponyville...turning to find the source I found an orange mare leaning up against the fence of the orchard, her orchard probably, a stetson hat planted firmly on top of her blonde haired head

"I uh...well...maybe? You haven't seen a Pegasus around here have you?" I asked as calmly as I could

"Ah can't say ah have...why?" she asked, tilting her head at me, her eyes analysing me carefully

"I just want to ask her some questions...I'm doing a thing...a book on Pegasi..." I use my magic to open my saddlebag and pull the unfinished book out a little, before sliding it back in

"Oh ah see...and ah know who you're lookin for...you'll probably find her nappin in the south orchard" she said, rolling her eyes and standing up tall...and she was pretty tall for a mare...I'd have to note that down later.

"Oh um...thanks, oh I never got your name" I call after her

"It's Applejack...and if memory serves I didn't get your name either" Applejack teased

"Midnight Starfall, I'm kinda new around here so uh...yeah"

"You want me to show you where to go don't you?"

"It'd help"

After following Applejack's directions...and her short tour of the farm, I eventually found myself in the south orchard, like the rest it was a mass of trees, all carefully planted in rows and columns...knowing that this is all harvested by just the two ponies left me almost in awe, I knew Earth ponies were tenacious, but this was a whole new level. Still...admiring Earth Pony workloads was impressive, it didn't help me find who I was looking for

"Hello?" I called out, confident that The Apples wouldn't come calling "Anyone out here?" I called again, looking around for a hint of anything...it didn't help that each tree looked exactly the same...searching through each one would be futile, but I wasn't one to give up easy "Hello? I need to ask you some questions!" I yelled out at the top of my lungs, hoping for a response, when all I got was silence I slumped down to my haunches and sighed "Goddammit...why can't research be easy?" It was then that I heard a bang, one like before...but this time about ten metres away: and the rainbow streak blasted past me, throwing me onto my back and leaving me in a daze, I still noticed the sound of hovering wings just behind me...or above me...it was hard to tell.

"Aww yeah...and that's why I'm the best flyer in Equestria" I looked up to see the cyan Pegasus alight on the ground to strike a pose, before she looked down at me, little concern in her eyes "Hey...are you alright buddy?" she asked, an eyebrow raised

"I...I...um...yeah...I'm alright" I said, climbing to my feet, then steadying myself, it seemed getting blasted back makes one quite dizzy "I'm fine...don't worry, I uh...I've been looking for you" I say, still having trouble standing straight

"Looking...for me?" she asks in confusion

"I...oh right, I'm writing a book you see..." I open my bag and pull out the book, again sliding it back in

"Oh, so you're an egghead" She chuckles

"I...I'm not an egghead...I just do research" I retort

"You're just like Twilight...well...you don't seem as bad, she doesn't really go out to do her searching"

"Research" I correct her

"Yeah, whatever, anyway, what do you wanna know?" She asks flying up and plucking a piece of off a cloud, before bringing it back down to the ground and preparing it like one would prepare a pillow, once satisfied she landed on it and took her time getting a comfortable position

"Comfy?" I sigh with a raised eyebrow

"Hey don't judge me, I always like getting comfy before ponies ask me things"

"Okay then, I guess it'd be proper to introduce ourselves, I'm Midnight Starfall" I started, putting on as calm a tone as I could muster

"Now you're sounding like Rarity" she snickered "Rainbow Dash...I'm surprised you didn't already know" Rainbow said, adjusting her sitting position a little

"I'm pretty new here...so I guess I'm still getting to know everypony, now...tell me everything that you know about Pegasi

For the sake of being informative, I'll summarise my little interview, mainly because Rainbow Dash wasn't the most helpful of subjects, while I did learn a great deal, it was broken up by her being...interesting. She did tell me a great deal about the Pegasus's second most obvious asset, their ability to manipulate the weather. Pegasi can interact with clouds just like anypony can interact with anything...to other ponies clouds might as well not exist, but to the Pegasus they are as solid as a comfy bed...it's no wonder why you rarely see them sleeping on the ground. Though this also means that Pegasi and by extension Cloudsdale (Which is also conveniently nearby to Ponyville) are responsible for controlling the weather, for supplying rain and snow...something vital to a healthy ecosystem and a prosperous Pony nation.

Rainbow Dash also told me a great deal about the Wonderbolts...in between those facts she told me about how Pegasi bones are far lighter, some even hollow when compared to other ponies...she also let slip that Pegasi wings also represent their mood, what they're feeling...and it also doesn't take an expert to see that they use their wings to emphasise certain words when they speak...though I feel like a detailed analysis into Pegasi wings would need it's own set of research and papers...I'm also sure such a paper exists already...

There were many things she didn't say however, whenever I brought up Pegasi mating rituals and breeding patterns she dodged the topic quite aggressively, here's hoping it's not a dodgy topic among ALL Pegasi and it's just her being shy, only time will tell, naturally.

I made my way down the dirt path, this was taking me some way out of Ponyville and further towards The Everfree Forest, close enough that I was feeling fairly uncomfortable...though according to Twilight another Pegasus that I should talk to lives down here, here's hoping she's not pulling my leg.

I let out a sigh of relief when I finally see the cottage "Finally" I say to myself, adjusting my saddlebag I continue onward, the dirt path now slowly becoming more worn, but a lot of the tracks didn't seem like hooves "Odd, well I guess this is near the forest, wildlife doesn't care what it walks on" I carry on over the carefully made bridge and up to the oak door, I take a deep breath then I knock three times, no answer...she isn't out is she? I knock three more times "Hello? Anyone in?" Why would she be out? 60% of these ponies lives is doing nothing...oh the joys of living in a rural area "Come on...answer the door" I say under my breath, before going to knock again. Before my hoof met the door though I hear the sound of unlocking, then the door creaked open slightly, a nervous looking set of eyes looking at me from the gap

"I uh...hey I'm here to...I'm writing this paper you see..." This was more than awkward

"I...I see..." said a voice so quiet that I could barely hear it

"I...I'd like to ask you a couple of questions...I can come back another time if you're busy..." I say, turning a little to walk away

"No no, it's fine..." said the voice in a hasty tone as the door opened up slowly, revealing a yellow Pegasus on the other side, trying to hide behind her hair. Strange to see a Pegasus out here

"I'm Midnight Starfall...what's your name?" Nice, try to break the ice

"I'm Fluttershy" she said, it was a little easier to hear her without a door in the way "P, please...come in" Fluttershy said, walking inside "Don't worry about the door" she said over her shoulder as I followed her in.

The first thing I noticed about her house was the smell...Twilight had said she liked animals...but...she seemed to actively care for them within her home, a simple scent blocking spell solved that problem however "So, Fluttershy...looks like you enjoy caring for animals" I say, looking around the cottage, there were many hidey-holes for critters, mouse holes, bird houses...it was a wonder how she kept the place clean

"Well I...I do what I can to take care of them...I mean, nopony else does...most of them are just treated like pests and don't get the care they need" Starts Fluttershy, a slight glimmer coming to her eyes as she speaks

"Don't you think it's a little odd for a Pegasus to be so involved with animals though?" I ask

"Well...sometimes, but I feel so at home with them, don't you think if you feel at home doing something, then it's what you should be doing?" She asks, ushering me to a comfy looking chair

"You make a very good point" I say as I sit myself down "Either way it does seem odd you're the only one doing this...don't you get help?" I raise an eyebrow as she heads into the kitchen

"Well, not from Ponies no, they seem pretty preoccupied with their day-to-day lives to care about all the wild animals...but I get plenty of help from the other critters...tea?" Fluttershy certainly seems to warm up when discussing her animals, a note for later

"I'd love a cup...so...you live alone out here?" I lean back into the chair...I'm pretty sure I'd be able to fall asleep in this thing

"Again, no ponies, but I'm never really alone with all the animals with me, then there's Angel" that's when I noticed the white bunny giving me a death glare from the other side of the house

"I...I see...anyway, I was hoping I could discuss Pegasi with you...about my paper" I say as she walks in, a tray with two tea cups and a tea pot on, carefully balanced on her back, with her wings supporting it

"Oh, allow me" I took the tray and it's contents with my magic and alighted it on the table

"Thank you" Fluttershy said before sitting down opposite to me "So um...what would you like to know?"

Thankfully Fluttershy was a little more forthcoming with information, even though she told me a lot of what Rainbow Dash had already said, she went a bit more in depth with certain facts, unlike Rainbow Dash...also unlike Rainbow Dash she didn't dodge my questions about Pagasus mating...as much...I'm still mostly in the dark about that, but she did say something about the gifting of the Pegasus's primary feather, as a sort of token of their affection, primary feathers in all feathered flying creatures being the most important for flight...it's easy to see the symbolism there. As for the other parts, I'm not certain I want to pry...while it'd be interesting to know the more I ask the more I feel like a bit of a pervert, even though this is in the name of science and education...it doesn't help that I keep asking mares...well...it's not my fault that 90% of the population seems to be female.