//------------------------------//
// Essentials 
// Story: Talking Is Hard 
// by Leoshi 
//------------------------------//

"Spike!"

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, Spike, it's horrible. I just got this letter from the Princess!"

"Which one?"

"What?"

"Which one? We have the original Celestia, her night-owl sister Luna, Cadance up north, then there's you...though I don't think you'd send a letter to yourself. Unless there's another time-travel situation going around. And finally there's the baby, Flurry, also up north. Can she write yet?"

"Wow, we have really expanded the alicorn ratio, haven't we?"

"Yeah, but if you think about it, one of them has been an accident!"

"Hey! Don't talk about my niece like that, mister!"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. Now, what happened?"

"Oh! Right. Letter, letter, letter... Ah. It's from Luna-"

"Aha, the night owl."

"Shush. She says there has been an urgent summons to the Buffalo Frontier, and I need to go and act as a representative of Canterlot."

"Urgent summons? From the Buffalo? Are they feuding with the settlers again?"

"I don't know, it doesn't say. Luna says she'll contact me with more information soon, but for now I need to pack for the journey."

"Hey, now that you mention it...how did Luna send a letter to you? It certainly didn't go through me. I haven't tasted parchment all weekend."

"It was...delivered by owl."

"Ha!"

"Mmph!"

"Okay, okay. So what's so horrible about all this?"

"I am a Princess, and I will play my part. Still, I'm worried. The last time there was trouble involving the buffalo, an entire town was nearly flattened!"

"The last time there was trouble there, it was resolved with pie."

"I know, and that only makes this stranger! What could be happening over there that they need a Princess to come down and help? Ooh, where are my good saddlebags?"

"You're wearing them."

"What?"

"You grabbed them on your way here. They're on your back."

"Huh. That's it! You're coming with me!"

"Wha- hey!"

"No complaints, Spike! I need to be on the first train to the Frontier, and it's obvious I'm going to be a frazzled mess without you."

"Phah! I get that, but I can walk! You don't need to stuff me ins- whoa!"

"Make room, mister!"