Faithfully Yours

                                                                                                                                                                 5th July

Hey Twilight,

I'm sorry I haven't been replying to your letters. Really sorry. Let's just say, it's been a tough year. I hope you still consider me a friend, if a lousy one. I don't know what I'd do without your friendship.

Thanks for the congrats. It means a lot that you're proud of me, but you should know that it didn't happen the way you think. My boyfriend is an amazing athlete, much better than he let everypony, including himself, believe that day. It's too bad he's not so quick to know how to do the right thing as he is to clear sky hoops. A lot of good ponies have lost their savings and more because of what happened at the derby, and I can only hope that what we have planned will at least help a lot of them back on their hooves.

Which leads me to my big news: we're gone.

Yup, right now, Soarin and I are officially 'gone', as in not in Cloudsdale, Ponyville , or anywhere; as in the furthest place you see when you look to the horizon, and then some - that bit tucked just behind the sky. When you get my next letter depends on when I can find a mailbox. So in the meantime, just picture us flying.

Don't worry, we'll stop before the edge of Equestria. We just need to find a spot near the coast that we can call home, where we can grow food and get a little business. Then maybe, one day once things are settled, we can have a foal or two. I'll have to teach them since I'm the smart one, so I guess Soarin will be bringing the bread in. He'll make a good dad though, I know it.

We stopped by Sweet Apple Acres before we left. Fluttershy came running out into the front yard, and the two of us said our goodbyes there while Soarin went to the door to talk to Big Mac. You see, after the derby, Flim offered Soarin the chance to buy Sweet Apple Acres. The price was okay, but I chipped in too - from now on, we do all these things together. I was a little worried about offending Big Mac after he refused to let Fluttershy take my money before; I knew he'd be too proud for pegasi charity. But when Soarin handed him the deed to the farm...well, the look on his face was clear. One look at me, and Mac was satisfied - this wasn't charity. At least not for Soarin.

I wish we could have stopped by to see you, but we needed to keep it as quiet as possible. For now, I need you to know that I'm not abandoning you guys. It's complicated. But then, it's not. It's simple. I just can't live this life anymore. I came within a feather's breadth of losing him, Twi, and I can't take that risk again. The posters lie. I'm not some enigma, I'm not the dream girlfriend with the hunk around her hoof, or the druggie with an attitude problem. I'm just a pony. Like you, like Pinkie, like Soarin, like Applejack. Once we're settled, I'll be back to visit all the time. I'll do everything I can to help Pinkie and Applejack, even if it means leaving Soarin behind for a while. He promised he'd never go back and I'll hold him to it, but that doesn't mean I can't. Right now though, I've gotta make him happy. And I've gotta keep making him happy, til the end of Equestria and longer. I can't lose him. If I lose him, I'll die. That's all there is to it really.

I'm guessing you've noticed the check with this letter. Don't freak out; I know it's a lot, pretty much everything we have, but it won't cover the losses of the ponies who betted on Soarin. Still though, I need you to try, set up some kind of trust - heck, you're the smartest pony I know Twi. If anyone can use this money effectively it's you. I've gotta insist ten thousand goes to Pinkie though. I only hope she's still lying low in Appleloosa.

I know it doesn't look good for Applejack, and I know there isn't much we can do. But please, save some for her just in case. I know there haven't been any sightings, but I can't give up hope yet. If she comes back, tell her I'm sorry. I'll be back soon enough to do what I can, but right now I wouldn't know how to say it myself. Maybe it's because even after everything, I'm only a little sorry for her, and a whole lot more sorry for me. And so I know I'm an awful pony, and I'm sorry for that too.

And don't forget Rarity, the only one who's got this marriage thing in the bag. If there's one pony I look up to above all others, it's her.

Don't start counting the days, Twi. Equestria's greatest hero will be back before you know it.

Your loving friend,

Rainbow

--

Twilight exchanged a smile with Spike, instantly forgiving him for reading her post. She crossed her castle room and peered out of the window. The city was bleak, but the sky was still a summer one, ripe for the return of Celestia. Things were going to start getting better, it was only a matter of time.