//------------------------------//
// Intermission 3: Last Letter? 
// Story: Stormriders: Luna's Own 
// by PonyMarine 
//------------------------------//

Background Music

It had been a long day on the mail route for Ditzy Doo, she steps in the door and shakes the dust from her hooves and coat. There's only one letter for the Doo household today and it's from her niece Clanky. Ditzy smiles warmly as she pulls the letter from her mailbag and instantly notices something amiss, the envelope is stained, and the return address is different then her usual military one. Ditzy tore the letter open in a slight rush revealing a crumpled, tear stained letter from her sister's eldest daughter.

Dear Ditzy,

Don't read this letter to Dinky... some bad things have happened and I don't want her to hear them. I know she's getting bigger but she doesn't need to hear things like this. Not for a long time with any luck and the Princess's favor. 

I'm guessing you caught on that the stallion I was talking about was Flare... I told him... sorta, we were going to talk when he got back from his last flight. He didn't come back Ditzy. Flare and Zephyr didn't come back. There was no confirmation, no fly over, no SAR attempt, but the military's officially got Flare and Zephyr listed as killed in action. It was all I could do to stand there and keep my composure when the Major read the death notices to all of us. I haven't stopped crying since I heard. Not until a little before I started to write this letter.

I don't think they're dead Ditzy, I know in my heart that they're alive and I'm going after them. I might be throwing away my life, I'm almost certainly destroying my career but either of them would do the same for me. I'm going and I'm bringing them back with me. I've called in some favors with... individuals around who think I'm something of a hero, they're willing to help me and one of them is going to smuggle this letter in to the post past the censors. If any one official asks there's another letter with this one that doesn't talk about this that you can show them if it comes to that. 

I suppose this comes down to love being something insane, to it making you do foolish things. To me though, love and friendship mean going above and beyond for the ponies you care about no matter what risks that means taking. I won't leave my friends out there, even if going risks my own life. I know you understand, some of the sacrifices you've made to take care of Dinky still pale in comparison to what I'm doing here and I know you'd go to lengths for her that would make this seem like a paltry gesture.

I love you both more then I can ever tell you, and I hope I get to see you both again soon.

Always your loving niece,
Clanky

Ditzy slumped down against the wall tears in her eyes and worry in her heart. 'Oh Clanky.... Celestia please keep her safe.'