Dear Princess

I’ve arrived safely in Fet Loch after a harrowing and narrow escape from the authorities of Roam. I’ve definitely learned my lesson to be a little more discrete in my appearances since that fiasco! Since then I’ve learned to scout the town before making an entrance. I should have remembered all that I’d learned during my inhabitation near Ponyville. Some ponies just don’t quite understand a non-pony creature. Would you believe that during my journey, I didn’t see one griffon? I guess they just do not range that far east of Canterlot.

Fet Loch is a charming little town located beside the lake of the same name (Loch! A charming way of saying ‘Lake’ in the local language, don’t you think? I love it very much!). It resembles Ponyville largely in its simple structure. All the buildings here are built with a local stone mined from a quarry not far from here. Each is very sturdy and few of them rise more than one story. As a result, larger buildings usually cover the same area as several smaller ones, though some with a second floor tend to be stockier around the base and made with larger stone. I had the chance to watch them working on a house. These ponies certainly have a very strong knowledge in masonry and how to fit stones together without the use of mortar! Somehow each piece just happens to fit exactly right so it results in a strong, well-built structure. The wall around the town alone took several years to build, I’m told, and is quite a sight to see!

The ponies here are largely earth ponies, though a few unicorns also make their home in this quiet little town. Most of their time is spent quarrying new stones for buildings that have yet to be built, and repairing the damage from others from storms or the occasional dragon visit. Evidently, dragons seem to appear often enough that much of their culture derives from local encounters. The main hostel is even named the Dragon Lance, for example. Yet somehow, even for their frequent run-ins with the wildlife, they thrive and are a rich and hearty people.

I had thought only female ponies wore skirts and dresses, but it seems that here even the males wear skirts, too! Though they call them ‘kilts’ here. Each one is unique, and their colors relate to the ‘clan’ that they are from. The colors are very vibrant and have meaning behind them, and no two pony’s kilts are exactly the same, though more than one will have a similar pattern. The kilt of the family I am currently staying with is a vibrant green with yellow piping and a red stripe around the hem. I would appreciate it if you could find it in your heart to send them a little something on my behalf for their kindness and hospitality.

The lake of Fet Loch is a murky and reportedly deep lake, and it’s also very cold. There are no hippocamps here, though I have heard tell of a local legend of a sea serpent that became trapped in this lake and has lived there ever since. Everyone has a story that a friend of a friend has told, but nopony I have spoken with will claim to have seen it for themselves. Her name escapes me at the moment, but I’m sure there are references somewhere in the Canterlot archives about it. It’s mysterious!

A local drink called ‘grog’ took me quite surprise. It’s hideous, foul, murky like the local lake and tastes like something the pony dragged in. I can’t wait to have some more! The first night I tried some ended up being the first night in a long time I can remember waking up with such a hangover on a table. Lucky for me, it’s apparently not unusual and I have been promised I didn’t make too much of a fool of myself. Later this week I’ve been told there will be a competition called ‘caber tossing’ where ponies use their great feats of strength to throw trees! I can’t wait to see it, it should prove to be impressive. While the locals are somewhat rough and rustic (absolutely nothing like the frilly folk of Canterlot!) their society is very close-knit and big hearted. I will certainly be making a return someday.

But sad as I am to say, I will have to leave on my journeys elsewhere and I’m sorry to have to leave them behind. My Pegasus Friend may be a little late delivering this letter, as she had almost as much grog as I did and left somewhat unsteadily. Please do make sure she gets an extra day of rest when she delivers my letter, as I can promise she deserves it after all the hard work she’s put in. Since the town of Hoofenheim isn’t nearly as far as Roam was, I should be able to make it a short trip and she knows to find me there.

Another of Twilight Sparkle’s friends, the unicorn Rarity, is one of the most beautiful creatures in Ponyville. Her element of generosity shows itself constantly, and it goes very well with her fashion sense. This pony’s business in Ponyville of making dresses that have been sold far and wide (I’ve even seen some of the simpler ones here in Fet Loch!) is certainly a very successful venture. Coupled with her talent of finding some of the most beautiful gems, Rarity can turn out some incredibly eye-catching designs.

However, I know this pony perhaps the least, though her fame makes her appear earlier in my letters than I would have otherwise chosen. Rarity sometimes gets a little self-centered and short-sighted and it tends to be a source of her conflicts, along with the occasional character-building adventure. Frequent visitors to her shop, aptly named the Carousel Boutique can almost always find what they’re looking for to look their best. If not immediately, Rarity will definitely do her best to design something that suits that pony to a T. She will stop at nothing until the customer leaves satisfied and happy!

But due to the traffic, I never got the chance to actually pay her a visit myself, and perhaps I regret this the most. When I return to Ponyville, I hope to remedy this. Which reminds me, Pinkie Pie sent me the most delightful little care package full of cookies and cupcakes, which was a complete surprise. Of course, I know Pinkie had trouble making sure the treats actually made into the box, which is why this gift was all the more welcome. I’ve shared some with some of the townspeople of Fet Loch, and I’m sure she may even be getting some future orders from a faraway place!

If it weren’t for the fact that I must keep moving as I explore the world, I’d definitely stay here in Fet Loch a little longer, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome. 

As always, your faithful servant,

Skye

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