Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m sitting at the docks in Horseshoe Bay right now waiting for the boat to Cayune. I didn’t get any sleep on the train here, but I feel wide awake. Or maybe I’m in shock, I can’t tell. If I am, there’s a cute stallion waxing a boat’s hull nearby, maybe he knows CPR? That’s just wishful thinking, but the last hour has been so stressful!

I wish the ship would get here faster, it’s like ripping off a band-aid, the faster you do it the better, only without the weird taste of adhesive glue in your mouth. If I could fly like you can, I’d probably be there by now, but not all of us train like you do. I’m jealous, but it’s either training to fly or tending to the animals, and you know which one I prefer.

I think you’ll like Luna Pier, even if it’s kind of quiet. We used to visit my great grandma there when I still lived with my parents, the sky’s really quiet but the ground’s also kind of really quiet now that I think about it. Still, you and Buck should spend some time at the pier! The birds around there are some of the sweetest I’ve ever met, and they even give you free crumbs to feed them. Hankey’s Biz also sells some really tasty funnel cake, and the honey is complimentary (but the sugar is artificial).

I nearly forgot, take as many photos as you can! I miss Buck, and want at least one picture of you and him to keep around the house. I think he’d be proud I finally got my own home and am taking care of the forest animals, he always said I was the best pony to go to for animal care.

Oh, and if you see my mom or dad, tell them I said hi.

Have a fun summer Rainbow Dash, I already can’t wait to see you at the end of it!

With love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rainbow Dash,

Don’t be so crude!!! I was just observing! I wasn’t trying to be like you loose!

Ahem. If the quiet is really bothering you, maybe you could try the cantina on the far side of town? It’s this little tiny plain building sitting just outside Pier’s limits. It doesn’t have much advertising, but if plays nice music and the water there is free, I’d shy away from their garlic-fried leeks, they can really play rough with your tummy. I know a few of the old fliers that moved to Luna Pier use that as a hang out.

Oh! You could take Buck there! He loved flying almost as much as you did, maybe the atmosphere will open him up? It has a lot of Wonderbolt and military memorabilia, I think the owner was a former flier before he retired.

I do hope Buck is okay. Did he even do his “where’s your wings” prank? I can’t imagine him, well, not lively, he used to talk my ear off when he’d come by the grocery store, even when I said we were busy. Maybe he just needs the Rainbow Dash brand of energy to get him going again.

And as for me, I made it to Griffalabella! I didn’t bring a camera but my guide told me you can buy them in the city, I’ll try to pick them up. There are plenty of griffons here, I even have two of them for guides, along with a hippogriff and a unicorn. You’d like Fabian, he’s the one who met me. He’s very suave and sweet-natured, if a little grandiose.

Broch is really quiet and always has a look on his face like somebody stepped on his claw. He hasn’t said more than two words to me, but I think I’m okay with that. He is huge, bigger than Big Macintosh! Not as big as Bulk Biceps, but Fabian says Broch is the one who will haul our equipment around. I hope he doesn’t mind the extra weight from my things.

Candis reminds me of you. He’s always in a “let’s go let’s go” state of mind, and I barely heard a word from his mouth when we introduced ourselves. He keeps reminding me that if I don’t pull my weight he’s going to leave me behind, and he seems more concerned with the schedule than if anypony’s ready. We barely started breakfast and he was annoyed that we weren’t on the trail already!

Sir Dusty Tracks is our unicorn, and you have no idea how excited I am to meet him! He’s one of the greatest animal trackers in the world, and the one who approved of me joining! He’s really classy, and incredibly handsome in a silver fox sort of way. (And don’t give me this “slut” talk, you’d fall for his moustache too.) He’s been rather dour, but I think it’s because it’s so early. Celestia’s barely put the sun up and we’re already finishing our first meal and about to check our bags.

Speaking of which, our lodgings? So cute! It’s all wood and rustic, out on the very edge of the city where travellers stay before the city gate opens in the morning. It’s a huge building, and there are griffons, ponies, and even zebras everywhere. I think I even spotted a Clydesdale running the distillery in the basement, and they’re bigger than you can think of.

We’ve been eating toast and hashbrowns full of herbs and vitamins, and they even gave me cantaloupe when I asked. The cups are a little awkward, but the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for. No milk though, milk is for inner-city “tightwads” (that’s what the bartender said, not me!).

I’m so excited I’m barely eating - though that may be because I’m writing at the same time! - but we’re just about to get going.

Candis is getting antsy so I’ll wrap this up.

Please keep me updated on Buck’s health, and I’ll even send him letters if it’ll help. I’ll try and get ahold of a camera soon so I can take you some neato pictures, but I can’t promise they’ll all be cool.

Much love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I’m glad to hear Buck’s doing okay, even though that seems a little unlike him. He always liked the sillier pranks, he once told me that pushing your work onto others is immoral. He must be tired in that case, the poor stallion, always so busy trying to keep you in a good house with good food.

Please tell him he doesn’t have to try too hard to give me a picture, I’ll love it no matter what. I just want to see him happy and healthy. Though exercise would be good for him, sleeping all day is terrible for your body. I’m sure he just needs a little while to get back into the swing of things.

You on the other hand, missy, should know better than to go around getting yourself drunk! Especially around your father! Don’t you remember those old PSA’s they’d make us watch every week? Being inebriated hinders your flying ability and harms your depth perception, two things a pegasus very much needs when they’re a hundred feet above the ground!

The drinks they serve at the cantina aren’t even that strong, how much did you drink? Were you and Buck having a drinking contest? Last time I was there, they barely served anything stronger than 3%. You’d better not have blown your whole summer fund on that cantina, Rainbow Dash! You still have a lot of mares to visit and keep company once you and Buck are properly caught up, and imagine how embarrassing it would be if you showed up at Applejack’s and you couldn’t even afford a ticket to see an aerial athletics show!

Sorry about blowing up at you, I’m just a little frustrated with some of my safari companions. They’re nice, but we’re having disagreements on hunting and going into town. I spent nearly an hour trying to convince everypony to let me to mail this.

I want an authentic safari experience too, but I think isolating ourselves from civilization is the wrong way to go about it. We’re here to observe and study animals, not cut ourselves off from everypony else.

That’s just me though, and at the very least I’ve gotten permission to keep up to date with you girls. They don’t understand how important it is that I keep in contact with you, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack. I guess there’s something to be said about a camping trip with just you and your friends, but I don’t think I would be able to stay away from you girls for the whole summer.

Anyways, I need to check the snorkeling gear to make sure we can do our underwater observations. Please stay safe and don’t get yourself hurt up there, and tell Buck he’s in my thoughts.

I’ll see you when I get home.

Much love,
Fluttershy

Dear Rainbow Dash,

It’s good knowing you’re going places with your father, he was such a busybody he could barely go anywhere with us. Retirement sounds like it’s been good to him, I’m glad he has the free time to spend with you now.

Your trip with him sounds like it’s going to be a blast! He always did want to see the cities, he used to tell me all about how he met your mom while at a party in Las Pegasus. The bright lights, all of the ponies, the loud noises, the plays, the casinos, the competitions, I’m happy that you get to help him revisit all of that! I don’t think I could handle the city life very well, but you’re so good in social situations.

Be sure he does his stretches before he flies though! Airborne cramps are nothing to laugh at at his age.

I also forgot to apologize, I was late writing this letter due to our travels.

Candis is still very on the move but is a very effective animal handler. While we were exploring the Griffala Coral Reef he actually dissuaded a shark from the area by breaking a few vials filled with the oil taken from a dead shark. Disgusting, I know, but he assured me that the shark’s death had been natural and the oil was a by-product.

He kept the reef clear of predatory of territorial animals while Sir Dusty Tracks and I tagged and documented the fish! Broch watched and handled the equipment before giving it to us, and Fabian observed the birds and counted their eggs. We had an extremely productive day, you might have found it boring but I loved it!

The coral is gorgeous and comes in so many shapes, sizes, and colors. Sir Dusty Tracks and I were extremely careful not to harm the ecosystem, and tagging equipment we used uses a specialized ink that is in no way toxic to the environment.

I’m still draining sea water from my hair, but it’s no biggy! I got very dry - and kind of crinkly - playing with the birds. Fabian told me I have sort of savant-like connection with them. I got to look at their eggs and they didn’t try to fight me off, and I even flew with a flock of Ertin Tails (ertin means “split” in Griffon, Ertin Tails have scissor-like primaries, laterals, and side tail feathers).

I got the chance to watch a black-billed harrier’s mating dance as well! It was funny, but it was also very beautiful. The male approaches a female and raises his black feathered-tail to keep her in the shade while the sun rises. Then, he bobs and waves his white head left and right, up and down, it was almost hypnotizing against his dark body. If a female rejects the male, she leaves and gets back into the sun. If she accepts him, she moves closer to his shade, allowing him to touch her.

Sir Dusty Tracks also got to tag a three-striped swooper, which got him very excited. I feel like I’m really pulling my weight, calming the animals and letting the others approach them. He hasn’t needed to use a sedation spell once, which pleased him and Candis. Candis apparently dislikes any form of environmental change (even though he’s perfectly okay hunting).

While I write this, we’re on the wagon again to our next location, the Ur’konda Savanna, which separates Griffalabella from zebra lands. It’s going to be a long trip, but it’ll be well worth it.

I’m a little concerned about Broch though. He’s still very quiet but he keeps going through the equipment almost obsessively. He won’t let me approach any of it without his permission first. He’s not mean about it, but he’s weirdly possessive. He was the one that dug out my paper and pencil for this letter. From a distance, nothing seems wrong with the stuff. It’s a lot of bags, a lot of books, clothing, writing utensils, and tagging materials, with some extra. He’s even counting the food down to salt and pepper by pound.

He’s taking a nap right now, and I feel bad gossiping, but Fabian is telling me it’s nothing, Sir Dusty Tracks says the same, and I’m afraid to ask Candis after our argument.

I’m sure it’s nothing, but I can’t help but feel a little concerned, you know?

Much love,
Fluttershy