//------------------------------// // Chapter 7x: Correspondence // Story: Wingbury Academy // by Chesterfeather //------------------------------// Saturday You fly to the observatory in the afternoon. Heading to the now-empty desk at the end of the small office, you begin to write. Rainbow Dash, I already miss you. Things are not the same at the academy. A lot of ponies have been asking about you. We're all worried and we wish we knew you were okay. I don't think anypony would ever tease you if you came back. Fluttershy has been helping me with my studies. She was thinking about you. She wanted to thank you for what you did for her. You're a hero at Wingbury. We want our hero to come back home. ---------- Sunday You return to the observatory office. The letter you wrote is gone, but there is no response. You write once more. Rainbow Dash, Today we had weekend wingball practice. It wasn't so bad—I promise I'm working hard on team formations. Actually, it's a little difficult because it's just me and Fairweather on the team. Coach refuses to give us a replacement for you. I think he's hoping you will come back. I hope you come back too. Can you tell me if you are okay? I don't even know if you have a place to sleep. At least tell me if you are safe. ---------- Monday You head to the office after classes to find the desk bare. Rainbow Dash, I thought I heard you in class today, but when I turned around, you weren't there. Even though you left, I expected to see you sitting behind me. My mind has been playing tricks on me. Lately, I've been having trouble sleeping. I've been doing a lot of night flying. It's not the same without you, though. To be honest, I spend the whole time looking for you. One night I hope I find you. ---------- Tuesday The observatory office desk is empty. Rainbow Dash, We finally burned those crystals in Chem II today. It was as cool as you thought it would be. I saved one of them and snuck it out of class. When you come back, we can burn it together. I think you'll like it. I really miss you, Rainbow Dash. Even if you're not coming back, can I see you again? I'm afraid of the day that my letters stop disappearing. ---------- Wednesday You return to the office. No letter. Rainbow Dash, Tomorrow's our first wingball match. We're going against Chesterfeather. It's a home game. Maybe you can come watch from up high? I promise we'll make you proud. We still don't have a third member. Fairweather and I decided to try and do a two-pony team. We just can't think of anypony that can replace you. It's getting really hard to write these letters. I choke up every time I leave one on this desk. I miss you so much, Rainbow Dash. Please write back. ---------- Thursday “You ready for the game, dude?” Fairweather grins. “Yeah,” you say. “I bet we'll do pretty well, even without a third member.” “I have a good feeling about it. I think we'll set some new wingball record, or something. The first two-pony team in wingball history cruises all the way to the finals!” You chuckle. “Well, let's worry about winning our first game. Then we'll start talking about the finals.” You float away from Fairweather, scanning the crowd. Matches start in fifteen minutes. Rainbow Dash, if you're out there . . . we need your share of luck today. A quick glance at the academy greenhouse in the distance reminds you of Fluttershy. She missed lunch this afternoon. Actually, I haven't seen her all day. I wonder if she knows about the game. “Coach!” you call out, flying over to the team bench. “Coach!” Coach Cloudmane turns to you. “What is it, son? You ready for the game?” “I'm ready, I'm ready. There's just somepony special I want to watch the game. Can I fly out there and—” “Whoa, we're about to start. Why didn't you think about this sooner?” “Please, coach! I didn't see her in class. I promise I'll be quick. I won't miss the game. I—” Coach Cloudmane sighs. “All right. Hurry up. I don't want to send out Equestria's first one-pony team to the field.” “Yes sir!” You flash a smile, then fly off the field toward the greenhouse. I just hope she's there. I might not have time to get to her dorm. You land carefully inside the greenhouse. As you canter to the far end, you call out, “Fluttershy! Are you there?” No response. You head deeper in. In the corner, you see Fluttershy standing before a table, quivering. “Hey, are you okay? You missed class.” Fluttershy does not turn to face you. “What are these? Letters?” You look over at the papers on the table. Those are the letters I wrote to Rainbow Dash! “What—how do you have those?” “You knew where she was the whole time?” Her voice begins to crack. “No! I still don't know.” She waves a hoof at the letters. “How can you explain all of this?” “I . . .” you trail off, unable to come up with the right words. Fluttershy finally turns around, red-eyed. “Tell me,” she says flatly. “When did you kiss her?” “What?” “I said, 'When did you kiss her?'” “I-It was a week ago,” you stammer. “The day after she disappeared. I found Rainbow Dash in the sky after everything happened and we kissed. It was a rush of emotion. I—” “You kissed Rainbow Dash?” She stumbles backward. You softly nod as Fluttershy bursts into tears. “H-How many m-mares does it take to satisfy you, you monster?!” She runs off, leaving you alone at the greenhouse. “Please, wait!” you call out, but she does not stop. You walk over to the letters on the table. Why are these here? I don't understand! You check the letters. As you flip through them, a photo of you kissing Rosewing slips out from between the pages.