It was a day like any other for most ponies in Ponyville. However, for one elderly unicorn it was one of those special days when she received a letter from her granddaughter. The mare had been anticipating it for a while now. She maintained steady contact with the filly, sharing with her the joy of writing letters. Much to her delight, the young pony really liked the idea. Now if only she'd been as enthusiastic about books...
When the mailmare who delivered the letter was gone, the elderly pony prepared some tea and picked up her glasses. Her eyes were not as good as they used to be, but that was understandable, given her age. Making herself comfortable in her soft chair, she opened the envelope. The letter was written on scented paper and it wasn't long before the smell of lilies reached her nostrils. Her grandkid had some quirks, but that only made the old mare love her more. She often wondered if all grandmothers felt exactly the same way toward their grandchildren. What she did know is that she could give Stardust all the stars from Luna's night sky if she could.
Smiling to herself, she took a sip of the tea and started reading.
Dear Grandma,
Thank you for this beautiful postcard from Fillydelphia! How was your vacation? Did you enjoy it? Did you meet many new ponies? Is that place as pretty as it looks on the postcards? Is it always sunny there like my friends say it is? I have so many questions, I always wanted to go there! Mom and Dad say that we'll spend our next summer vacation there and I simply can't wait! My pen pal from Fillydelphia, Speedy, says that once we visit, he will show us all the wonders of the place! The prettiest avenues, the liveliest beaches, the best ice cream booths! Isn't that exciting?
Did I surprise you? Yes, I do have a pen pal, and more than one. Your idea was perfect! Who would've thought that you could make friends at such long distances? Writing letters is fun, I knew that from writing to you, but now? Now I can write not only to you, but also three other ponies who live in completely different parts of Equestria! And we all enjoy it very much. But don't worry, you'll always be Number One on my “List of Ponies to Write a Letter To”. Yes, I keep a list just like you do!
Speaking of doing things like you, I recently improved my magic skills a lot. I even got an A in Practical Magic recently! It was a Teleportation test. I managed to teleport further than the maximum distance went! Our Magic teacher, Mr. Coltwick even smiled and said that I must've inherited some of your talent. And then he picked me, Indigo and Amber as the school's team for the annual Skilled Unicorns' Competition!
Although to be honest, I'm pretty nervous about all of this. What if I don't perform well enough? What if I embarrass myself in front of so many ponies in the audience? And in front of my friends, too! I know you've always told me that I should have more faith in myself in such situations. I think I'm a lot less shy than I used to be, but I'm still put off by large audiences. Actually, now that I think of it, it's pretty ironic. I mean, I want to be a travelling magician and have my own show with Amber Spark and yet, stage fright gets the better of me. Is that how all artists start their careers?
Oh, I promised I would tell you more about that magic show we want to have. Amber really got into the idea and even thought up a nickname for herself: The Mysterious Amber. I think it's really cute. I didn't really like the one she came up with for me, though. The Great and Powerful Stardust just doesn't sit right with me somehow. Sounds too... boisterous? I don't know how to put it. Anyway, I can guarantee that we will perform our first show in Ponyville, so you can come watch it!
And one last thing, but it's a big one! Mom and Dad already told you that we're going to visit you in Ponyville in about two months, right? Well, since I really improved my school grades and proved that I'm responsible by taking care of Ms. Ivy's cats, Mom decided that she'd allow me to have a pet! She said that you have a friend that's really good with animals and has lots of them. She said she wouldn't accept a pet from anybody else. Do you think you could persuade your friend to let me have a canary? I love their bright colors and I simply adore their singing. I would love to have one!
Well, this letter ended up being a tiny bit longer than usual. I'm looking forward to your response, as always! And I can't wait to come over to Ponyville and listen to your stories again! They always leave me speechless. I don't know how you do that! For now, I'll keep practising my magic.
Your loving granddaughter,
Stardust
P.S.: Has Mr. Dragon awakened from his nap yet? He promised he'd give me a ride on his back the next time we meet. I've never flown in my life before, I just hope that Dad will allow it!
The unicorn smiled to herself, a single tear flowing down her cheek. Every time she read a letter from her granddaughter, she felt this incredible warmth inside her. This letter caused an even stronger reaction. It was good to know that Stardust had finally started to make friends. The old mare smiled yet again, realizing that the young filly would soon start to discover the magic of friendship, just like she had done in the past.
Twilight Sparkle rose from her chair and added the letter to the growing collection in the drawer by her bed. It was time to ask Fluttershy if she had any canaries.
