Scootaloo tried to squeeze in next to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in their old clubhouse. They’d decided that when the letter came, they’d open it where their little club had met so many times before it grew and grew over the years. And now the letter was here.

They had become young adults, so the clubhouse was much smaller with the three of them in it, but they squeezed together as Sweetie Belle waved the letter in the air with her magic.

Apple Bloom reached for it.

“Come on! Open it.”

It flew away from her reach. Sweetie Belle booped Apple Bloom on the nose.

“We’re going to read this all at once. Ready?”

The letter came to a stop at eye level. Scootaloo hugged against her two friends to get in closer.

The paper flap lifted and began to slowly tear open. They’d been waiting months for this. They’d sent the proposal to Celestia after they had Twilight check it over a few times. Now they’d finally know if their plans for funding cutie mark camps and conventions across Equestria would come true.

The regal piece of paper floated out. Scootaloo began to read it. Celestia’s writing was strong yet elegant.

My dearest little ponies,
After hearing so much about you from Twilight and her friends, I was overjoyed to receive your proposal to spread the magic of your little group across Equestria. We have agreed to issue you an expense account to cover the travel, food, materials, and location rentals. As part of this, you’ll be required to report on your use of these funds. Details can be found in the legal papers.

I look forward to hearing great things about the Cutie Mark Crusaders across Equestria and maybe even beyond.

PS: I thought it would be even better to prepare you for the hard work of your future jobs by sending a little of my own funds. It’s customary for ponies who come of age to do a little traveling before settling down with their jobs. Take the enclosed note to any bank, and they’ll get you the bits you need. Use this time wisely. Visit and reconnect with the friends you’ve already helped. I’m sure they’ll inspire you in your work in ways you can’t expect.

Always a friend,
Princess Celestia

Sweetie Belle was already watching Scootaloo as she finished reading it over. Apple Bloom took a little longer, but the three of the squealed in excitement.

Scootaloo tapped the letter with a hoof. “This is way more awesome than what we were expecting!”

“I guess it’s our last big break,” Apple Bloom said. “Before we work hard travelin’ across Equestria to help with cutie marks everywhere.”

Sweetie Belle flipped through the other papers in the envelope. “Uh, let’s see how much Celestia gave us.”

Her eyes went wide as she saw the amount.

Scootaloo leaned in to look and her jaw dropped. Apple Bloom joined them a moment later.

“Why… with this…” Apple Bloom sputtered. “We could go all the way around Equestria and still have some to spare.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I suppose the princess didn’t want us to have to worry about money while we travel.”

A handful of colorful rectangles fell out of the stack of papers that Sweetie Belle was holding up. Scootaloo looked down and noticed they were a bunch of pictures held together with a rubber band. A little note was on top of the stack.

I had each of your old friends write a little note and send me a picture. I hope you can visit them all.

It had the same handwriting as the letter, so it had to be from Celestia. Scootaloo set it aside and looked at the first picture.

A very handsome hippogriff was on it. He was tall and starting to fill out in the chest the way the hippogriff males tended to, but he still had a sexy leanness to him. Scootaloo smiled as she eyed his smooth feathers and nice muscles. His white feathers and messy seafoam-colored mane and tail looked very familiar.

“Is that Terramar?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo nodded. “It is. He’s looking very nice.”

She felt a little guilty looking, but the photo was taken at an angle that showed just a hint of his sheath and balls under his fluffy belly. Scootaloo blushed as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stared at the picture and at her. She turned it over.

Hey Cutie Mark Crusaders!

It’s hard to believe how a few years have gone by so quickly, but I still remember when you came to help me out. My father got my a job as a naval scout, so now I look out for danger in the sky and the sea. I feel so natural switching between the two. I heard you might be able to come for a visit, so I’d be glad to show you the best of both worlds when you get here.

Your friend,
Terramar.

Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo a knowing smile. “Maybe it’s time to reignite that old crush you had on him.”

“Come on.” Scootaloo snorted. “It was just on the train ride home.”

“But you wouldn’t stop talking about how cute he was at least for a day or two. And now he’s even more handsome.”

Scootaloo’s wings spread as she turned even more red.

Apple Bloom put a hoof over her back. “We could always borrow the sex ed books from Twilight’s school. Those had a thing or two to say about hippogriffs.”

Scootaloo’s friends laughed as she tried to fold her wings back down. She took a deep breath and finally managed to feel less flustered.

“Do you think he’d… do that with a pony?”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I think so. Rarity’s books on romance always say it’s all about dropping the right hints. Being too forward scares any decent stallion away. If you want to give it a try, we’ll back you up.”

“But what about you two?”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle smiled as they went through the rest of the pictures. Gabby, Babs Seed, and plenty of their other friends who no longer lived in Ponyville were on the photos, and now they had the time and money to visit all of them and see just what might happen as they reconnected. Scootaloo looked back down at the photo of Terramar and felt flustered again. Celestia had said to reconnect with old friends, so she couldn’t blame them if they got to doing what young adult ponies liked to do.

Author's Note

My goal is to post updates on Mondays and Saturdays until I reach the end of part 1. I hope you'll all have fun with this!