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[Correspondence] AMA: Princess Edition [OPEN]


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The Viridian Commons, one of Canterlot's many open-air common areas, was bustling as usual for a Thursday afternoon. This one's primary feature was the eponymous café and its attached restaurant. It was a low-key affair by day, being nothing more than a coffee shop and small bakery, but by night it transformed into a happening place with a busy restaurant and a bustling bar, a prominent fixture in Canterlot’s night life.

Thusly it was the perfect place to post announcements. Diomedes Ironwing was not normally one for poster duty, but the packages had been assigned to somepony else today and this job was very important. After all, who could say no to a princess’ pronouncements? Hammering the last tack home with his hoof, Dio wiped the sweat off his brow with a fetlock before closing his saddlebags and taking wing for the next spot. There was a full pack saddle of these and they all had to be up by sundown!

Upon closer inspection, the poster was in fact a clever facsimile, written in script and stamped with the royal seal of Celestia. These posters had recently gone up all over Canterlot, advertising a new program from the Canterlot Royal Public Relations department, an AMA or “ask me anything” presented by the princesses themselves. Included in the advertisement was a letter from Princess Celestia herself:

My dearest subjects,

With the success of the latest Canterlot Royal Public Relations open house, I have decided to open up additional avenues for the ponies of Equestria to contact the palace and get to know the Princesses better. For the next month, Luna, Cadence, and myself will be answering letters from you! You can ask just about anything within reason. We will answer your questions within our abilities, time, and prudence. Thank you all for participating!

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

OOC: This thread is open to all players!

The post format is as follows: a short exposition or anecdote from your character describing their day or their general mood as they write the letter followed by the letter itself. The letter should pose an in-character question that your character would be interested about knowing about the princesses or alternately how government is run. Just be aware that questions may be screened at the palace’s discretion.

Ready? Ask the princesses (almost) anything!

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Word soon got out about this 'open letter' opportunity. A pretty bold move on the part of the Princesses, since they were likely going to be flooded with mail asking all sorts of questions! How exciting!

Well, there was a silly filly in Ponyville that was going to take advantage of such an opportunity! After writing down the address she had to send the letter off to, the pink unicorn ran home as fast as her little hooves could carry her! A quick hello to her mother, and Pinchy hoisted herself up onto the table, paper laid flat and pencil levitating at the ready! She was so excited! She had never written a Princess before! She knew of the Princesses, sure, and had caught a glimpse of Celestia once, and saw Luna during Nightmare Night, but never actually met them. What was she going to write, though? It had to be something nice... What did Princesses like to talk about?

How about tea parties? Pinchy liked tea parties... She always imagined Princesses must too...

Celestia's Beard!

She got an idea! She was shaking with excitement at the very thought of this idea coming to fruition! Maybe she could invite one of them to her home! For tea! Oh wow, that would be so cool! Get to have tea with a Princess?! She had to word this carefully... It has to be a nice letter! But to which Princess? Maybe all three? No, that would be too much... She had never seen Cadance before... Didn't know much about her either. Maybe Celestia? Actually... Luna seemed nice, and she liked pranks, sometimes! Just like Pinchy! Or so she gathered from Nightmare Night. Luna it was!

Dear Princess Luna' date='

Hi!

My name is Ruby Pinch, a filly from Ponyville!

I saw you during Nightmare Night and I think you're really cool!

I never wrote a letter to a Princess before! I hope I'm being polite enough.

Anyway, I just wanted to write you and let you know that I think you're really neat and nice and pretty and funny! But I also wanted to ask if maybe you wanted to come to my house for tea sometime? It would be super awesome, and we could talk about all kinds of stuff!

Either way, hope to hear back from you! Writing to you is real exciting!

Love,

Pinchy <3 [/quote']

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At the recent CRPR open house, the bay colored pegasus Skybright twins, who were a year younger than the legendary Rainbow Dash, had met up with Duke Polaris.

As members of the Royal Canterlot Observatory (Cloudsdale branch), they had mentioned their efforts to someday meet Princess Luna to thank her for the beautiful nights they have enjoyed as astronomers since her return.

In return for letting him spread the happy news about their mother's pregnancy to the court, Duke Polaris had immediately told them the Princess had been reclusive of late but had managed to meet some lucky ponies at random.

The Duke had ended with suggesting they write Luna personally.

Fortune seemed to be on their side that week as they read the notice that letters were actually encouraged that month!

After an all night session watching a meteor shower, the twins managed to stay up longer than their quick morning weather duties their father insisted on and collaborated on the letter to Princess Luna;

"Dear Princess Luna,

We are Star (A.K.A. Hoss) and Shanna Skybright of Cloudsdale,

It is our job to do fieldwork for the Royal Canterlot Observatory (under the supervision of Stargazer the Cranky in Canterlot...), having gone as far afield as Appleoosa and the Strand to study the wonders of the night sky.

We wish to take this time to thank you for the brighter, beautiful nights we have to study since your return and would someday like to thank you in person.

Signed,

Your Loyal Subjects of the Night,

Star and Shanna Skybright"

The twins examined the letter several times to catch each others writing mistakes, put it in an envelope, and streaked out their window to catch the mailpony before she left the post office.

Soon, they returned to their respective rooms and drew their curtains of black cloud with pinholes in them to simulate a night sky and took almost 'till noon to fall asleep from their excitement...

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Earth Writer, a newly engaged columnist for one of the Canterlot Daily papers, found himself devoid of ideas again. Before this job, his work had never been seen by anyone but his teachers and classmates, and now there were potentially thousands seeing his work. *And judging it.* This worrying wasn't helping anything; and so the young unicorn stallion was taking a brisk walk around the city of Canterlot to work it off.

He saw the poster in passing, and stopped to read. He turned away when he finished, walking again, his thoughts jolted into a new path. *What would I ask them? It'd be crass to just ask them for a chance to get in the Equestrian Royal Geographic Society. No, I've got to earn than how I can. Still... what could they tell me, that no pony else could?* Then, he stopped. At any point in a walk around the city, a pony might suddenly catch glimpse of the view from the mountain ledge the city was perched upon, and it never fails to stun the receptive.

Earth Writer wandered back to his flat in a daze, and to his little table where he wrote when at home. After staring at a piece of paper for a little while, he levitated a pen and began to write.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My name is Earth Writer, I'm a geographer living here in Canterlot. I wanted to ask you, do you remember when this city was founded, and why it was founded here? Most of the principal architecture is of Marble, and it is some distance to the nearest vein, both vertically and horizontally. I had a kind of notion, half formed, that you, or maybe your sister saw the view from a mountain ledge, and wanted to share it with all of us.

At least, I like to think so, when I catch a glimpse of it.

Sincerely,

Earth Writer

He posted the letter straight thereafter. He wasn't sure how fast Princess Celestia would reply to the letter, but if it was swift enough, it would settle the issue of a subject for his column.

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In time, news of the Princesses' AMA initiative reached even as far as Las Pegasus. Passed along with the usual gossip at the roulette table of a certain young but talented croupier at the High Stakes Casino Resort was the intriguing news that the sun princess had opened up her letter box for everypony in Equestria to write to her.

Serendipity viewed the news as she viewed most things, through a thick lens of skepticism, but she had to admit that the idea, did provide some manner of wry amusement. So all three princesses would be answering questions, huh? it was a curiosity, and like most curiosities that reached her, Serendipity found herself eager to sate it. If Miss Sun Princess was looking for new pen pals, she could do no better than Las Pegasus' luckiest mare, after all. Maybe she'd learn some interesting insights while she was at it? Maybe it'd be an outstanding waste of time. Either way, writing the letter would probably at least be a fun diversion.

Dear Great and Exalted Princess of the Sun,

Heya, the name's Serendipity. I heard about this whole letter deal and it made me kind of laugh. Am I really to expect that the high and mighty ruler of Equestria is reading this? Pfft! Not a chance! I know a lot of big shots, and if there's one thing they all got in common it's not being particularly inclined to do things for themselves. Seeing as you're the biggest of the big shots, this is probably just seeing the eyes of some royal scribe (sorry for giving you more work to do, Mr. Scribe~! <3 ) you guys are throwing bits at for your funny little PR game. Not that there's anything wrong with that; gotta admit that either way you caught my eye with this cute little game, so I'll play along for now. <3

So, yeah, I'm Serendipity, ace croupier at the luxurious High Stakes Casino Resort here in the beautiful and exciting city of Las Pegasus! I guess I ain't a Sun Princess or anything like that, but as ponies go, not to brag (too much at least... <3 ) I'm pretty amazing. Which is itself something of a curse. You see, I get bored a lot. Job's fun, and I meet some pretty cool ponies at it, but even it gets a little bit bleh after so much. I sometimes like to go out and see and do stuff sometimes, you know to make it less boring.

That brings me to the pretty little point of this cute little letter: As the esteemed Sun Princess who has so magnanimously ruled and guided these lands for-like-ever and stuff, you probably know all about what's cool. So, what ya think is worth seeing out there? Where are the places and things that'll make me go, "Hey that's kinda awesome!" and then not forget a week later? Gotta be something you can think of, right? Write back when you can. I'd love to hear some truly royal suggestions! <3

Thankies!

Serendipity <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

P.S. If you ever get bored up there in that castle of yours, come see me here at the resort. I'll show you a good time that'll last you at least a few hundred years! <3 <3 <3

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A few days ago, Dr. Spin Tale experienced a revelation while hosting a Canterlot Army Historical Society Q&A event at his museum. One of the attendees asked the panel, featuring retired veterans of the Royal Equestrian Army, about their opinion on current veteran’s benefits provided by the government. One of the former soldiers joked that all the serviceponies really wished for was just one holiday honoring them. Everyone there had a good laugh but as the Q&A concluded, Dr. Tale couldn’t stop dwelling that holiday comment.

Of all the various things commemorated by Equestrian holidays every year, the mares and stallions of Her Majesty’s Defense Forces were not one of them… the Griffons meanwhile had at least two holidays honoring their soldiers! Equestria may not have faced a war in at least a hundred years, but that didn’t mean that serving in the army was not without risk and sacrifice. Thus, when Spin Tale heard news that the Royal Princesses were soliciting letters from their subjects, the curator decided that it would be worth it to at least ask Celestia about the matter. In his cramped office a floor above the museum's public exhibits, Dr. Tale took a piece of paper and began writing with his quill …

Dear Princess Celestia,

Greetings; I am Dr. Spin Tale, and I curate a non-profit museum dedicated to examining the experiences shared by past-and-present soldiers of the Royal Equestrian Army. Recently, it has come to my attention that there is no royally-recognized holiday commemorating active-duty and veteran serviceponies. Considering all the effort our soldiers make to keep Equestria safe, I find it curious that such a holiday does not yet exist.

I understand that some ponies believe that our country does not require further nationally-observed holidays. However, I am interested in your thoughts on declaring a day of remembrance for our soldiers. I understand if you do not wish to create such a holiday, but I am sure the ponies serving in your army would appreciate this simple gesture.

Thank you for the peace and justice you have provided our homeland throughout the ages, Your Majesty. May your reign, and that of your sister’s, last for another thousand years.

Your Loyal Subject,

Dr. Spin Tale

President & Curator-in-Chief

Canterlot Army Historical Society

Spin Tale chuckled as he finished writing his correspondence. If he were actually sane like any other pony, he would have instead begged the princess to have most of his debts forgiven. That probably would have been an improper thing to ask of Celestia though; plus, Dr. Tale prefered not being in somepony’s debt anyway. Satisfied with his letter, the curator had it mailed the next morning… along with his latest student loan payments.

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On her nightly patrols of the city, Night Watcher ventured into the area known as the Viridian Commons. There the midnight hued pegasus took a moment to read the various bulletin boards that were located there. Any notice regarding a lost pony or an item stolen would immediately be committed to memory and recorded upony returning to her barracks where she would see to the matter being taken care of by her or those who served under her. Upon scanning the area, she noticed what at first appeared to be a royal declaration as it was signed and bore the royal seal. With a closer inspection, it was a request for any pony to send a letter to a princess regarding any question they may have. While Night Watcher felt that there was a danger writing a letter as it would appear to be circumventing the chain of command, she did see this as an opportunity to investigate a matter she had on her mind.

And so... upon returning to her brracks and after removing her Lunar Guard armor, she took a piece of stationary and a pen and ink and wrote:

Greetings to the High Exalted Princess of the Moon and Guardian of the Night and Co-Ruler of Equestria, Princess Luna,

I am Staff Sergeant Night Watcher of the Lunar Guard, sworn defender of Canterlot and Equestria. I must begin this letter in humble gratitude for allowing me to lead a squad of the newly formed Lunar Guard to defend the city at night when it is at its most vulnerable. We strive to protect the capital city, its citizens, and of course you, your sister, and Princess Cadence.

It is with this in mind I must ask your opinion on the status of defense of the city at night. I know this is something that I could ask a master sergeant first sergeant on this matter, but I felt that with the opportunity that was available to seek your counsel on the matter as you are the Princess of the Night and thus have such strong connections to the nightly activities of Canterlot. This information on how to improve defending the city will be received in confidentiality be me, however, if it pleases you I would also prefer to share it with my fellow squad members as well.

I await your reply with great anticipation. If you so choose to meet with me rather than convey the information via letter, then this can most certainly be arranged.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this letter.

Sincerely,

SSG Night Watcher"

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My, my, the mail was busy today, wasn’t it? The publicity campaign seemed to be off to a grand start, its flyers attracting a multitude of letters from all across Greater Equestria. Celestia gently sipped at her tea the saucer, teacup, and freshly inked quill floating around her head as she read and scribbled responses on her parchments.

The first response came from a geographer who, appropriately, had a question about geography, geology, and... aesthetics of all things.

Dear Earth Writer,

Canterlot is an ancient city with a very storied history dating back thousands of years. The castle proper began its life as a military fortress during the Age of Discord, a shelter for ponies whose homes had been turned inside out by the trickster spirit’s antics. When Discord was finally defeated and the world was returned to harmony, those who had sheltered in the ancient stone found themselves attached to it. The inhabitants of the fortress brought life and beauty to the mountainside, growing their gardens in and around the flowing headwaters of the Rissette River. They brought with them stone from Germanean quarries, construction techniques from the duchy of Trottingham, and art and magic from all over Equestria, laying the foundation for the city we know today.

So in a way, you are right. Canterlot castle was built from necessity, but the ponies of Canterlot stayed and flourished because of harmony, camaraderie, and in no small measure the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. Thank you for taking the time to write me. I enjoyed answering your question and hope that my response finds you well.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

The next letter came from a tablemaster at one of the many casino resorts in the vacation town of Las Pegasus. Celestia giggled to herself as she read. This young mare was certainly a lively one and if the princess weren’t older and wiser, she may have taken Seredipity’s perky pronouncements and giggling gab for flirtatious foolery. Of course, that was all part of the game as a croupier; was it not?

My dear Serendipity,

I do my best to keep up with the letters that come to my desk. While regrettably I am unable to answer each and every one, it seems you’ve just made the cut ;-)

To answer your question, though, there are cozy little vacation hideaways all over Equestria; one merely has to go looking for them. The resort hotels of Las Pegasus and the little log cabins on the Mount of Dawn near Stalliongrad each have their own charm, but I’ve found my personal favorite to be a little hamlet on the south coast of Unyasi. The Zebras call it “Amani,” a local word for “peace.” It’s a rustic little village right on the beach, surrounded by nothing but clear sky and flawless landscape as far as the eye can see. White sandy beaches, purple mountains, grassy rolling hills, and ocean blue as polished sapphire beckon to you in the day and an unspoiled view of the stars and moon gently tuck you in at night. Something tells me you were expecting some place rowdy and exciting from the get-go, but I think you should give it a try. Amani has a little something for everypony!

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

PS: I’ll hold you to that the next time I can afford to take a vacation!

And finally, a curator for one of the museums of military history, dedicated to the legacy of the Royal Equestrian Army through the ages. The question was easy to respond to, but difficult to answer. Why hadn’t there been a holiday for servicemembers in ages? It was after all, only proper for a nation to honor its heroes and their sacrifices. But that was what the previous meeting was about, was it not? There was no holiday, but there would be... as soon as the bureaucracy was placated.

Esteemed Dr. Spin Tale,

Are you sure you haven’t been peeking at my meeting minutes?

I have been consulting with current Royal Equestrian Army administrators about creating such a holiday for the mares and stallions in uniform. This, of course, is no simple matter. As you have said, Equestria has not been at war in over a thousand years, nor do we have foreign commitments to watch over as the Griffons do. Thus, the role of the extant REA will be substantially different from those of the Aquellian Republic Marines.

Such a holiday must be tailored specifically to the Army of today, both honoring our current serviceponies while simultaneously discouraging the poor impressions (ie: saber rattling or any show of force for that matter) that overtly military parades and celebrations springing from nowhere could bring.

That said, be rest assured, doctor, that the matter is being discussed and will be implemented in some way, shape, or form in the near future. Thank you for your considerations and deliberations, as well as your blessing upon my reign. If the gods decree that I may serve Equestria another thousand years, I shall do so.

Servant of Equestria,

Princess Celestia

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[colour=#000080]Luna certainly hadn't expected to receive many letters, much less the first two. This was entirely Celestia's idea, after all. Luna had agreed that it would be an interesting experience, but she was almost certain the majority would go to her sister. Cadance was well known around Canterlot, but she wasn't nearly as old as her white Alicorn aunt. Still, Luna didn't see her reputation as the best, yet here she was with two responses on her hooves.

The very first was from a young filly in Ponyville, apparently one of the residents and an attendee of the previous Nightmare Night. Luna dreaded remembering the fiasco, but it seemed to be a forever haunting memory. Well, at least this filly could differentiate between Luna and Nightmare Moon.[/colour]

Dearest Ruby Pinch,

Hello, and thank you for your kind and heartfelt letter. I'm willing to bet that you're a pretty “cool” filly too. I do not recall if we met at the aforementioned Nightmare Night, as there were many foals and... well, most of them were running away. I can see that the incident thankfully brought no ill will between us.

I am happy to tell you that your mannerisms are quite adequate for a pony of your age group. I would also like to inform you that I would be delighted to join you for tea at a date of your choosing. Please feel free to write me again concerning the time and location.

Sincerely,

Princess of the Night, Luna

P.S. Make sure you clear the tea party with your parents.

[colour=#000080]The next was from a pair of astronomers, seemingly family, that hailed from Cloudsdale. Luna realized that more and more, she was meeting ponies who enjoyed studying the nighttime sky, and indeed, those who did it as a preferred profession or who had a special talent for something relating to the moon, stars, planets, or meteors.[/colour]

Dear Star and Shanna,

Thank you for writing me today, and for the services you provide to the ponies of Canterlot and Equestria. I must say that I have no had the pleasure of meeting Stargazer the Cranky, but he sounds like a smart fellow, who has helped breed two equally smart ponies.

My sister tells me the sky remained untouched in my absence, a crime to its beauty that I have been trying to rectify since my return to Equestria. It gladdens me that you have been enjoying its wonders nearly as much as I enjoyed creating many of them.

Thank you cordially for your compliments, and know that they are heartily received. I am certain that there shall come a time when we may meet. I believe it would be an enlightening experience for all involved.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

[colour=#000080]The third was from one of the night guard, and had one of the longest greetings she'd ever seen. Still, it was interesting to hear from one of the guards, seeing as normally they were on duty and quite perfectly poised and not really into socializing. Celestia still did most of the hiring, but the night princess had been trying to familiarize herself with the night watch and the current state of the military in general.[/colour]

Dear Night Watcher,

Thank you for writing me with your concerns this eve. I can see that you are quite dedicated to the role you play in protecting Equestria. I am quite grateful for the work you, and others in your profession, do. Your services are irreplaceable and much appreciated.

While I have been seeing increased pony activity after dark since my return, I would not venture to say that the night is any more dangerous than the daylight hours. The threats may be different, but those that occur while the sun is up should not be taken with any less severity.

As for security, I was unfortunate enough to be caught in the middle of a breach recently. Well, I was involved with the investigation following the breach, anyway, so I was not in any immediate danger. But it brought to light perhaps certain areas in which the protective guards and those in training may be lacking, in both discipline and communication. We both might like to think that those who watch over Equestria both night and day would be nothing less than perfect, but that is not the case.

Nopony is without fault concerning the matter. The superiors of all recruits should be teaching and training, and all those who come before each recruit should lead by example. There is no excuse for lazy work in this line of career, and there has hopefully been some tightening on security since the incident.

Equestria has been built on the fundamentals of Harmony, all creatures and ponies living and working together. So too, must all work places and employees work together, no matter the job or task. In the guard, it almost always takes no less than two to make a mistake, whether in the line of duty or in the chain of command. In order to better Equestria, both as the guard and as a species, we must all be united.

Thank you kindly for your letter. It is encouraging to know that there are still those in the guard who do so out of a feeling of duty for their country, rather than for family obligations or because of ulterior motives. Your words were well received, and I would not be opposed to mine being shared among your comrades.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

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Penumbra was asleep right in front of one of Canterlot's many mail receptacles, sealed letter to Princess Luna in her mouth as she dozed standing in place. It had been a long day for her, between the usual night shift, and her attending a carnival-like festival- ironically advertising mattresses- with a few friends. It had been worth it, truly, but it had taken so long to slog through the day! There had been her friends that kept insisting, 'one more ride', 'one more game', and Penumbra didn't want to miss out on her friends for anything as essential as sleep. Fate had found a way to keep her up for a full day and a half straight, and it had even been sardonic enough to put a flyer advertising the letter writing to the Princesses on the door of the bathroom she had been using at the festival.

No way Penumbra was missing the opportunity to write to Princess Luna. From what she knew of the enigmatic Princess of the Night, her sleep schedule was as awkward as Penumbras- asleep during the day, active at night- and that was one of the more significant reasons that she was perhaps as enigmatic as she was. Beyond the whole Nightmare Moon debacle, of course, but Penumbra hadn't been personally affected by that. So Penumbra had forced her body against it's best interests, stayed up the extra hour to put together a letter with innumerable crossed out mistakes made in her exhaustion, and was now asleep with the letter still in hoof. Or mouth, as the case were.

Dear Prises Princess Luna,

We I want to take the time to thank you for reading this ask you about your habits thank you for reading thas express my admiration of your position as ruler of the knight knight night. I feel that you are unfairly considered egnimated enigmatic by everypony someponies who do not take the time to consider your position. Always asleep usually Strange hours as you sometimes keep, I wonder if you have ever considered the effect that has on your life? I suffer similarly I know it is natural- I suffer from a similar condition myself- and perhaps that is why I want to write to you? and I wonder if you have any methods of dealing with being active when most ponies are asleep?

I know I'm being pretty darn rude having difficulty expressing myself in this letter. My condition is to blame Not to cast any negativity upon your way of life sleeping habits, they are surely wonderful in their own way but I cannot perhaps deal with mine in the same way that you do yours. I wish to have friends in the day, and I'm sure you do too and I am pushing my health and mental facltteis faculties to a dangerous level in my insistence to have an active social life by day. I feel as if I am perhaps stuck I do not know how I feel about my habits, self destructive as they are, because I surely cannot be blamed for my condition? Not that I say it is wrong, by any means. I just wish to know what you think of your habits, and what you would advise.

I am sorry if this isn't what you wanted to read from your subjects, and I undstand understand if you don't wish to see

I apologize for that line, I fell asleep on my quill and ran it off the page. As I was writing, I undarstand understand if you do not wish to respond.

Your Faithful Subject,

Penumbra Dewdrop

[colour=#808080]"Zzz... I'm up, I'm up!" [/colour][colour=#000000]Penumbra jolted awake and quickly stuffed the letter into the mail slot before she fell asleep again. Then she began to trudge her way home.[/colour]

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Serendipity couldn't help but smile as her reply came. She didn't fully trust it still; princesses taking the time to correspond with ordinary ponies? that was hard to swallow. Regardless, whether it was penned by Mr. Scribe or the Sun Princess herself, Serendipity had to say it was a darn good answer to her question. Unyasi? She had never even considered traveling there before. The southern coast of Unyasi though? That was crazy. That would mean traversing Equestria and then the entire Unyasi landmass to get to this Amani. Something that distant made sense as a remote location only a princess would know to suggest.

Serendipity instantly wanted to go there. Getting there would probably take some work however. It was rather far, and probably not the sort of trip to make alone. The most she could do for now was put it at the very top of her list of places to see eventually. For now, she'd focus on the other place her "princess" mentioned in the letter. This Mount Dawn up near Stalliongrad was apparently awesome enough to be mentioned in the same breath as her own Las Pegasus. Making a trip up there was much easier too. All she'd need to do was find an airship to take her up that way. It sounded like a plan and she really couldn't imagine anything going wrong.

--- Elsewhere in Equestria---

Dazzle Dawn wore a cheerful smirk on her face as she sat at her desk as she often did come night time. Unlike most nights, she was not drowning herself in coffee as she fought desperately to force entire books worth of material to stick in her brain for a coming exam or working her hardest to finish off an important essay due the next day. No, the plucky young university student was not engaged in work for once. Instead the mare found herself writing a letter to none other than one of Equestria's great princesses. She still did have a tall cup of sugar saturated coffee from her favorite shop close at hoof, however.

Word of the letter writing had been quite the talk around campus at Canterlot University. Many of the students were eager for the rare opportunity to write directly to the princesses themselves and Dazzle was no exception. Writing to a princess sounded like tremendous fun. She had initially wanted to write Princess Celestia, since Dazzle had seen her once and thought she was really pretty and she also really like the brightness and warmth of sunlight. After a while, however, her attention turned to a different princess who she thought might be more deserving of her attention.

Dear Princess Luna,

Hello! I'm Dazzle Dawn, a student here at Canterlot University. I heard that you and your sister were taking letters and it really sounded like fun! I decided to write you because you kinda remind me of a friend. She acts dark and gloomy sometimes, but I can tell she's just lonely and a little sad. I really have to work with her sometimes, but getting her to smile is the most rewarding thing ever. I was wondering if you were lonely like that too? I hear some ponies still don't trust you since you've returned; some even think you're scary. The fact that you were gone so long can't make any of that easier on you. I'd imagine that even for a strong and amazing princess that might be tough sometimes and there probably aren't a lot of ponies around to keep you smiling, especially at those late night hours.

I don't know if this letter will make you smile, but I thought it might be nice for you to see that somepony here is thinking about you. The nights have been even more beautiful since you've returned I think, which is good since I have to stay up really late all the time these days to get all my work done. Sometimes I like to take strolls by the moonlight, and often it's hard not to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the night. Thank you so much for working so hard to make it so wonderful!

Oh, and since I'm supposed to ask you something, how about this: What are your favorite sweet things to eat? I really love sweets and I'm always looking for new stuff to try! I'd love to hear the suggestions of a princess! Thanks!

With lots of love and smiles,

[colour=#33cc33]Dazzle Dawn[/colour]

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Despite her best efforts, an ecstatic Ruby just couldn't convince her mother the reply was actually from the Princess, let alone Luna wanting to go to a vineyard for a teaparty. But she wasn't going to let something so special be ruined by superstition! Pinchy KNEW this letter had to be from Luna!

So, she wrote back and invited the Princess of the Night!

Dear Princess Luna,

Wow! Thank you so much for writing me back! Your letter made me so happy!

Of course it's ok for you to come over! It would be so great to have you, I can't even describe it!

But I don't know what your schedule is like, I bet you're super busy! : )

I have school during the weekdays and stuff, and my mommy won't let me stay up too late if I have school the next day, but sometimes I stay up and look at the night sky! The stars are so pretty!

What about Saturday? I don't have school then, and I'll be available all day!

It would be so super great to see you, Princess! If Saturday isn't a good time, I hope there's another time soon!

Love,

Pinchy <3

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Dr. Spin Tale thought it would take Princess Celestia about two weeks to send a response, so finding a letter addressed from the Royal Palace so soon left the curator astonished. Not wanting any pony to disturb him while reading the princess’s letter, Dr. Tale uncharacteristically closed his museum and opened the envelope in his office (the Canterlot Army Historical Museum received only a trickle of visitors compared to nationally-famous institutions like the city’s Museum of History). Coincidently enough, a proposed holiday honoring the soldiers was already in the works! The curator didn’t know whether to feel like a behind-the-times fool or an all-seeing prophet.

Regardless, Princess Celestia’s humble tone rather struck Spin Tale. Not that he ever had reason to regard the princess as an elitist, but reading her words written just for him further cemented the curator’s opinion that Celestia never saw herself above other ponies. Reasoning that the princess deserved a response back, Dr. Tale waited until nightfall to craft a response of his own, which he mailed the next morning…

Dear Princess Celestia,

Indeed, I am pleasantly surprised that the proposed holiday I wrote of is already being deliberated on. Unfortunately, I do not have any suggestions of my own as to how such a holiday can be implemented. What I can say though is that for ponies like my father, who takes pride having served our kingdom despite breaking his spinal cord in the line of duty, and for others such as the ROTC cadet I’m glad to have called a fellow study partner at Canterlot University, they don’t require something excessively grand and dramatic. In my experience, simple things like a “thank you” from a foal or a free meal can surprisingly do wonders to make a soldier feel appreciated by everypony.

Thank you for taking the time to write to myself and your other subjects, Your Majesty. I just hope that the royal mailboxes aren’t overflowing with mail by now, although I would be shocked if that is not the case.

Your Loyal Subject,

Dr. Spin Tale

PS: If a name for the proposed holiday in question has not been decided yet, may I recommend something along the lines of “Heroes’ Day”, except with less cheesy sentimentality?

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[colour=#000080]Well, it seemed that letters were practically pouring in. Luna hadn't expect to be quite so... well, popular. After all this time, she was beginning to realize that things really had changed. Although it could just be a fluke this time around, seeing as she had been far less accessible than her sister up until recently. It was possible to speak with Celestia had gatherings and parties, but Luna was less prone to show her face at such daytime events. Plus, Luna was frequently busy with studies and catching up on history. Well, those letters weren't going to write themselves!

Luna looked down at the mishmash of crossed out words and tried to decipher what the actual letter was supposed to say. There were a few ink blotches and scrawled words, and if the vocabulary weren't so good, she might have thought it was written by a foal. But it appeared the author was just one very sleepy pony.[/colour]

Dear Penumbra,

Thank you for your letter, and I hope that you have been resting well since your first correspondence. In my personal experience, I have come to find that the nights are much shorter in the Summer months, so it is much easier to be awake from the afternoon until the next morning. In the Winter months, many ponies with more normal schedules stay up late, as it is a season of rest and respite.

But, you can clearly see from recent events the effect such hours had on me. So I encourage you, if you can help it, to keep more daylight hours instead of being awake through the night. Everypony needs friends—someday, they might even save your life. Social interaction is a normal and healthy part of living. Not having friends would be almost as bad as not having the sun. They are both things that you shouldn't live without.

Since my return, however, I have discovered a much more active nightlife in Equestria. I am not sure when or where such activities became normal for some, but it is what it is. Perhaps it would be beneficial to seek out some of the night dwellers and befriend them, so as to avoid being lonely. Having get-togethers and leaving the house are nearly as important as food and water. You suffer if you don't have it.

I say it's alright to sacrifice sleep every once in awhile for friends, or vice versa. But some events are rare, while there will always be time to lay down later. Still, not enough sleep, whenever you rest, is not healthy for your mind or body.

And, I would like you to know that I welcome and am grateful for every pony that takes a little time out of their day (or night) to write to and think of me. Perhaps a penpal for you might be the right idea. You wouldn't be constrained by night or day hours, yet would still be able to talk with each other.

In any case, I hope that my letter receives you in good health, and that I have been able to offer help to you in some way. I am not as well versed in advice as Celestia might be, but I suppose you did choose my personal area of expertise. Maybe your day time friends could offer some suggestions as well. I'm willing to bet the ones closest to you will be the ones to help you get through.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

[colour=#000080]There was another letter, this from one of the students at the nearby university. It was so close by, Luna toyed with the idea of perhaps making a visit to give a lecture, or maybe just to check up on the late night students. There did seem to be quite a few younger ponies in Canterlot and other cities who kept late hours and slept into the afternoon, instead of the normal sleeping schedule Luna was accustomed to ponies having. Well, the student would be expecting a reply.[/colour]

Dear Dazzle Dawn,

I would like to thank you for your letter, and assure you that it indeed brought a smile to my face. Every letter I receive is a reassurance that things are, in fact, changing for the better, for me at least. Equestria is still going to take some getting used to, but I know the friends I make and my sister will support me every step of the way.

I hope that your studies are going well, and those of your friend. It is important to let that type of pony have their space when they need it, but at the same time, to always let it be known that you are there for them. Don't assume that just because you're friends that she already knows she can count on you. Someponies need reminding or reassurance. Sometimes just being there without saying a word is enough.

It should come as no surprise to anypony that I am, in fact, frequently lonely. The hours I keep are not the same as most ponies, yet I seem to be finding more and more those who are 'night owls'. It seems that times have changed while I was away, and I can't say I am ungrateful. It is quite interesting to hear from those whose talents relate to the dark night sky, or even space. I'm still getting used to the idea.

I can confirm though that the night sky probably looks better than it has in a long time. Celestia has told me that the night has remained very much the same in my absence, and I have been doing my best to make up for that. I am glad that she felt it sacred to myself so as not to touch it, but unfortunately that means it remained sorely unappreciated.

Thank you for your compliment on my work, and your letter. I wish you, and your friend, well in your schooling. As for the question of foodstuffs, I have found I am quite partial to moon pies. I suppose that is a bit more than fitting, all things considered. I hope you get a chance to try them, and enjoy them as much as I do.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

[colour=#000080]Ah, and here was another reply from the young Miss Ruby Pinch. Luna smiled at the antics of the young as she began to write her reply.[/colour]

Dear Ruby,

Thank you for your swift reply. I can see that you show excellent responsibility for such a young pony. You are very welcome for my reply. Thank you for taking the time to write to me at all. Actually, coincidentally both of your letters have made me quite happy.

You should also always listen to everything your mother says. They tend to know what's best for you. It is good that you are attending school, and I hope you have good grades or I shall be quite displeased when I come for tea. Oh yes, Saturday shall work out splendidly for me, provided all your homework is finished on time. Perhaps I could even stay a little later and we could do some stargazing together.

See you soon!

Sincerely,

Best Princess, Luna

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[colour=#000080]The next was from a pair of astronomers, seemingly family, that hailed from Cloudsdale. Luna realized that more and more, she was meeting ponies who enjoyed studying the nighttime sky, and indeed, those who did it as a preferred profession or who had a special talent for something relating to the moon, stars, planets, or meteors.[/colour]

Shanna squealed as she checked the mail after they woke up in the late afternoon one day.

Only several days had passed since they wrote Princess Luna, and here was a reply with a royal postmark and an elegant script on the front addressing it to them from Princess Luna herself!

She left a blur across the invervening space to the family home, squeaking out her joy, and waking up their pet owls.

Titan and Blizzy hooted their annoyance as Hoss and their parents, Thunderstar and Starbright, came into the living room to see the letter.

After Shanna read it aloud, Starbright hugged her grown foals. "Thank you my little ponies, I am sure our Princess needed to hear from her subjects. Even I, the Astronomer Royal for Cloudsdale have only seen her in passing.

Be diligent in your work and she will be pleased to meet you sometime. After all, even I have not recovered a piece of the Sparklestar comet as you two have.

The ebon pegasus gently beeped her daughter on the nose "And please, Shanna, let Stargazer's crankyness roll off your back. It takes special bravery for a unicorn to ride in a pegasus cart to observe celestial events when he is terrified of flying.

Shanna bushed and giggled sheepishly while Hoss laughed. "Yes mum."

Meanwhile, behind Canterlot proper, In the community of Northern Solstice Heights...

Candy Catch-Em, the pegasus Critter Wrangler had just returned that week from an expedition to Appleoosa's high desert, studying the wildlife there with the Royal Zoological Society.

The Royal Wedding had occurred while she was away and the expedition had elected to stay in place, figuring they were safer there with Wyverns and such, than dealing with the immediate aftermath of Changelings in Canterlot.

One of the first things she noticed on her return was flyers advertising that all three Princesses were taking letters asking questions.

Being the inquisitive and lonely pegasus she was, she decided to write Princess Cadence;

Dear Princess Cadence,

I am Candy Catch-Em, one of the best animal handlers, or Critter Wranglers, in my family history.

I hope my letter finds you in good health, and give my reguards to your fine catch of a husband. ;-)

My job involves being of in the middle of nowhere for extended periods so i feel I must ask, though if you would rather answer a different question, feel free to skip to the end instead...

Still here? Ok, good! I am far from comfortable asking this one and will understand if you do not wish to answer this one.

It does not matter that the zoologists, biologists, and anthropologists are currently arguing under who's authority Changelings fall; I'm still the one out in the sticks where they could find me.

Since they are not animals, I doubt my skillset really translates well in handling them, so if you are willing I wish to ask what you can remember about how they capture somepony?

..........

And if that question is too painful, perhaps one related to your talent would be better instead...

I am more comfortable caring for injured beasts or capturing hazardous animals than the hearts of stallions. Would the Princess of Love have any advice for a lonely mare who loves animals and lacks a stallion?

Signed, Candy Catch-em

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((ooc:Heh. Writing letters to princesses is fun. :D ))

Dazzle Dawn smiled at the response letter between her hooves as she read it. Princess Luna was really nice. She could tell. That's not to say she ever doubted it. No, Dazzle always believed in ponies; as far as she was concerned a truly bad pony didn't exist at all. Love, kindness and compassion shone even in the most bitter of hearts. As for the former Nightmare Moon, Dazzle Dawn was now convinced she was about as sweet and wonderful as ponies came.

She considered writing again to explain Arcana's situation more, how she no longer went to school with her and how Dazzle wasn't even sure where she was now. She wasn't one to trouble others, however, and especially not royalty. No, for now she'd just keep and treasure this one letter from the princess. Also, she'd maybe consider sending some moon pies to the castle some night. She was rather sure that the princess would love that, and a pony as kind as princess Luna, more than deserved it.

--- Yet elsewhere in Equestria --

Ardent Fate was a little anxious as she started to write. Was this a good idea? Wasn't turning to help a sign of weakness? Moreover, going to adults usually resulted trouble for her. Still, the idea of writing a letter to none other than Princess Celestia herself had a definite draw. She was the one who ruled Equestria; she was supposed to be the most beautiful and powerful mare in all of Equestria. She was also the one whom all in the Destrier Order were sworn to serve. She had to be amazing. She had to understand. Maybe she'd be able to help her?

The young filly hoped at least, as like usual she found herself haplessly wandering without the faintest of clues as to what to do with herself. It was hard not to take advantage of this letter thing the princess was offering to all of Equestria. For the lost filly, all on her own, the smallest amount of guidance could in turn make all the difference in the world. She hoped it went well. Moreover, she hoped her letter turned out okay; she had never actually written one before... not that she had much practice writing anything at all. She was much better at speaking words than writing them on paper... The prospective Destrier knight hoped her intentions were clear to the princess regardless.

Hello princess Cellestia, my name is Ardent Fate. I am riteing you this letter to let you know that one day I shall be your greatest champion! I am currenty training to be a great Destier knight just like my father was. I have already know all the vitures of the Librum by memory and Ive really been working on learning how to fight like a true knight! I think Im getting good at it though sometimes its scary and ponies tell me what im doing is dangerous and try and stop me and take away my fathers things especially his sword but I dont let them have it since its so important to me and I need it if Im ever going to be a knight like he was. But no one ever believes in me and I dont know why. Even when I won a blue ribbon at the iron pony no one took me seriously. Its starting to really get frustrating and I dont know what to do. I know im still young and small and a filly and I cant rite very well and I dont have anypony to really show me how to do things anymore but there has to be a way to make speed things up so i can reach my dreams sooner. What do you think I should do? Since your the princess you should know everything right? How do I make my dreams a reality and become a truly great knight? Also when am i going to get my cutie mark? I would love any advice you could give.

Your humbel servant and future champion of the Destreir Order

[colour=#330099]Ardent Fate[/colour]

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Night Watcher received her response along with the afternoon report. Reading it carefully, she saw that Princess Luna did not out line any spesiific things to improve with her squad. However the general themes of increased communication and unity were prevelant. Night knew that communication was an issue, especially with the break down of such during the Changeling attack. Unity was also big as often the squads operated as their own seperate entities.

Noting this she thought about proposing a Unity Day for the REA, or at least the Lunar Guard to help increase this bond. As for communication, she intended to make that her top priority whenbriefing her squad in the evening.

Meanwhile...

News of the ability to write letters to the Princesses had reached Heart Healer. In between her counseling sessions with other ponies, she began to write a letter regarding something that bore heavily on her mind.

Dear Princess Celestia.

My name is Dr. Heart Healer and I both live and work in Canterlot. I am a psychologist who helps to resolve any emotional issues such as love, depression, and anger. I do this by being blessed with a gift of being an empath, the ability to feel other ponies' emotions.

In my time as a psychologist, I have met with dozens of patients, each with their own concerns. While my confidentiality with these patients prevents me from addressing anything spesific, I can see that there has been a rise in negative feelings. This increase is not only felt during my sessions, but also out in public where my empathic ability detects such emotions. It appears that more ponies are nervous, sad, or angry rather than happy. I have actually met with and spoken to Princess Cadence and she had seen such an individual with such sadness and anger that both she and I were trying to help. These negative feelings, I've found, have increased after the Changeling attack on Canterlot.

The point of this letter is to humbly ask you how somepony in my profession can help such ponies with these emotions and what, in your opinion, is the cause for such a rise in feelings of depression, anger, and sadness. Please understand that I would not want to quickly fix such issues with magic, even if I had that ability, but my hope is with more information about the root cause and how to help ponies with such issues, I can be able to do more for them.

I humbly await your response.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heart Healer"

With the letter signed and sealed, she gave it to her secretary to be mailed and then waited for her next patient to arrive.

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Princess Mi Amore Cadenza had languished about Canterlot Castle for the past few days, her usual bright and perky mood dimming somewhat each morning when the mail pegasi would bring letters. Most were business, an encroaching timber wolf pack here, a domestic dispute over pastries there, a letter from some stuffy pony on the board for the Canterlot Royal Public Relations Bureau... When had they even added the "bureau" part? The mare couldn't remember, but she'd likely either dozed off or had her mind shut down in self-preservation during Councilpony von Snoot's ego-feeding presentations. Whatever kept the old stallion happy, she supposed.

But those weren't what Cadence was looking for as Celestia's sun broke the horizon into a million scattered pieces of light and bathed the world in warmth each day. She had been so excited for the idea of a written correspondence between the princesses and their subjects, as really the only non-work mail she ever received was from her husband. Each time, however, they were either addressed to Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, which mostly contributed to her dulled attitude.

Had she overexposed herself to the public? She straightened in front of her vanity mirror, puffing up and looking regal. Had she lost some of that aloof princess mystique? Or maybe she was just... boring! The reflection in the mirror gained a haunted, disbelieving look in her eyes, mouth slightly agape. That couldn't be it could it?! She was more in tune with modern trends than any other immortal of which she could think!

Just as her doubt threatened to consume her, a modest letter was dropped at her chambers.

"[colour=#ee82ee]Oh, more work[/colour]?" she grumbled, dropping all pretense and trudging over to stand at the foot of her bed while levitating the scroll into the air before her. "[colour=#ee82ee]Hmmm[/colour]... [colour=#0000ff]'Dear Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, please stop opening the windows during CRPRB meetings. We like to drown in our own stuffiness, blah blah blah[/colour],' " she imitated in a deep, snide voice, waving a hoof through the air for effect until she actually realized what she was reading.

"[colour=#ee82ee]Oh[/colour]!" the royal mare squealed quietly, her eyes roving the parchment. "[colour=#ee82ee]Critter Wranglers[/colour]?" she chuckled, before her mouth set into a passive line after reading the bit pertaining to Shining Armor.

Her eyes flicked over to the REA Stallions of the Year calendar that sat prominently upon the bedside table... on her husband's side of the bed. The photo depicted the unicorn in a very assumed pose with a teasing glint in his eye, and a toothy smile that said 'I know you want me.'

"[colour=#ee82ee]Yeah no, he doesn't need to hear that little ego-inflating tidbit[/colour]," Cadence muttered, continuing her reading before preparing an inkwell, quill, and fresh sheaf of parchment on her desk.

It had been a while since she'd been able to practice casual calligraphy. The quill became enveloped in the soft blue of her magic, dipping itself into the ink before beginning to softly scratch out her reply in smooth, flowing script.

Dear Candy Catch-em,

Thank you so much for your letter! I have to say I've never met a "Critter Wrangler" before, but it sounds exciting! I met a few ponies in the border settlements who did something similar a few years ago, but they never had a proper title for themselves as you do. At least you'd have something to talk about should you ever meet!

As for the changelings, their greatest danger is even mentioned in their name, obviously. They're made to blend in, to infiltrate without notice. It definitely wasn't the highlight of my life being their prisoner, but if my experiences can help anypony else avoid the same fate I'm more than willing to share what I know. Their most common method of capture is simply overwhelming their target with a surprise attack, having been nearby all along in an incospicuous form. Their powers aren't just limited to pony appearances, so don't be fooled! They can mimic other medium-sized creatures as well, though they can't really change their overall body mass. So, you're safe from squirrelings at least.

If they notice that you frequent an area, they're also capable of constructing a very adhesive 'web' in an unexpected spot, which could very easily catch somepony unawares. It's usually a vibrant shade of green though, so unless they're extremely crafty and you aren't paying attention, a sharp eye should save you from that particular trap.

My greatest piece of advice however would be to simply watch for any out of place behavior from other ponies or animals. Changelings can mimic appearances down to the tiniest detail, but it's up to them to act in such a way as their assumed form might. Caution is your best defense.

On a happier note, don't lose hope on the love side of things! True attraction isn't something you can force, even my magic can't do that. You have the right set of tools though! You're brave, caring, and everything in between just from your job description. What wouldn't a stallion like about that? However, you have to show these things, you can't just assume a stallion is psychic (not even unicorns). Just be yourself, don't hide anything, and let them see you for the amazing pony you are. Taking care of a male is really no different than what you do now. Pet it, tell it it's a good boy, feed it, and let it sleep while thinking it's on top of the world. In any case, you're ahead of the game.

Cordialmente,

Princess Cadence

P.S. Food is always a great conversation starter. If you can, get your hooves on some passion fruit. It's very aptly named.

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Penumbra had actually, for a rare moment in her life, found the time to get a proper sleep when she should have been sleeping, early in the morning through the afternoon. Her friends had always known, always been sympathetic, but this had been the first time they had gone out of their way to help her in her plight. One weekend that had been set aside to be over at her house, sleeping her hours. It wasn't practical and wasn't easy, and a lot of them were the grumpy and surly ones now while she was bright and perky, talking shop over coffee while the moon was high in the sky. It wasn't something they could do too often. But Celestia- no, Luna knew that it was a step towards normalcy for the first time in her life.

So soon after her friends took off, back to their original schedules for the time being, Penumbra was wonderfully surprised to see that she had a return correspondence from the Princess. Wonderfully surprised meant positively ecstatic, bouncing off the walls not quite, but smiling wide as she tried to produce a pen and paper to write a return message. This time, she was eloquent, perhaps not a brilliant writer, but she did not constantly misspell words at least.

Dear Princess Luna,

I'm glad for the advice, and I actually managed to see some of it in action before your letter even arrived! My daytime friends did understand, and did try to make some adjustments as they could for my sake. It is nice, knowing that they would be willing to help me get through, as much as they can manage without hurting themselves. I think I am, for the moment anyways, looking forward to the prospects for my future. I cannot change myself, but at least I have my methods to cope!

Such as your offer! Penpal, really? I don't know if you were implying another pony or not, but I'd like to take a little more of your time, now that we already have a thread of conversation going on. It actually took me a while to produce anything to say, pacing back and forth, wondering what it would be worth asking a Princess. I'm actually on the patio of my apartment now, looking out at your night sky. It gets me to thinking, because while I am no astronomer, keeping the hours I do allows me to see certain beauties that other ponies might not be as aware of. When I'm not exhausted from keeping those hours, that is. I love what you've done with the majors. Are those the majors? The really arranged stars that are always in the littlest corner of the sky? It's nice, having that kind of texture on your peripheral vision, and then looking over and seeing their full gorgeousness come into view.

Now that led me down the path of thinking about nature in Equestria. I'm a weather pegasus, I work the dead hour shift around midnight up in the mountain pass. The one where the winds have to be diverted away from Canterlot or else we'd have a semi-perpetual winter. I thought about how much pegasus change nature, about how much you as a Princess changes nature. I just had to ask, how important was it that nature be part of our harmony? Was it always necessary, even in your childhood? Do you have any personal opinions on it? I'd love to hear something back from you.

Your Faithful Subject,

Penumbra Dewdrop

MEANWHILE MILLIONS OF MILES AWAY IN MANEHATTAN

Wordplay came out of one of her clubs, a usual engagement for her late at night. She knew she had school the next day, but she kind of didn't care. Her career was more dependent on how she produced and networked herself through the clubs of Manehattan, not on how she handled her final year of school. Was she really happy to have one last year with some of her best friends? Sure, but it wasn't like she was going to stop being friends with them when they all left school and joined the adult world officially. She was pretty much already a working member of the adult world and she still found time to be an idiot with her friends.

It had come to her attention that the Princesses were taking letters, mostly because two of the rappers in the freestyle that day had mentioned it in their lyrics. Wordplay had gone out to the bar's bulletin board after her verse- which had been pretty lame this time around- and true enough she had found a flyer for the concept. Why they needed official advertisement was beyond her, but hay. Not her place to judge, though it was a bit funny that this huge and pretty dang awesome concept was on a flyer as if it were any other tacky event. Like say, the ones she liked going to. Smirking at her own hypocrisy, Wordplay found herself some writing utensils and wrote out a letter to a Princess she had always been curious to hear from.

Dear Princess Cadence,

Sup girl? Is that too informal? I'm kind of used to making all kinds of informal metaphors and assertions regarding the Royal family in my verses, so uh... if you want me to stop, I'll try to be more formal when referencing you guys.

Well, I have to ask. When I first heard your name as a little filly, the first thing my musically educated mind wondered was whether your name had anything to do with music? I know a cadence isn't just a musical term, but still. As a Royal, were you ever educated as a musician? What genre? Style of singing? Range? I could probably fill up twenty letters with all the questions I could ask you about whether you make music or not, but I'll just leave it at some of the basics. And if you're good...? You need to give a public performance some time. Just imagine it, a three part harmony between yourself and Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Or a freestyle rap off. Okay, I'm pushing it.

And uh... well...

As the Princess of Love, how important would you say love is as inspiration for art? Like, can love make art like music that much better? I'm not saying I'm going to go out and find myself a stallion or mare just because of what you say- no, not even if you wanted me to- but uh... as an almost adult mare who sort of lacks experience in love... yeah. I'm just curious. So if you'd be willing to respond to any of my questions? That would be pretty cool, and thanks in advance!

Your Faithful Boi,

Wordplay

Wordplay wondered if she could be banished for the slight sarcasm and informality she had expressed in the letter. For a fleeting moment she wondered if putting the letter in the mailbox without editing it had been a good idea.

Eh, YOLO.

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The wonders never ceased! Not only had Cadence received a fun message for her first letter in the correspondence campaign, but now she had another one to answer! How had she not noticed it earlier in the day? As she unfurled the letter in the air before her, her eyes narrowed at the words viewed through the shimmering ether of her magic. This was serious business, and thus required the right state of mind. At the moment, she didn't have the right materials, but this could be fixed.

After setting the scroll on her desk to wait for her return, the princess removed her crown and replaced it with a violet beret after tugging on a similarly-colored turtleneck. It was going to be cold this Luna's night, after all! Deciding she was adequately dressed and prepared, Cadence flared her wings, took a small leap from her balcony, and glided into the bright lights of nighttime Canterlot below her.

After using her pegasus magic to gather the breeze beneath her undulating feathers and coming to a cantering stop on the cobblestones, Cadence found herself right where she wanted to be: Hot Trot Alley. Shiny glitzy ponies of all shapes and sizes shmoozed past the alicorn, rarely even glancing her way. This is why she'd picked fairly subtle clothing... Everypony here was their own show. The more things you wore, the more you were noticed. That's how the alley worked, even though it was more of an entire section of downtown Canterlot. And that was why she was here.

Her first stop was a threads shop, where a grizzled red pegasus with his mane twisted into cornrows sat behind a counter. All over the store hung various attire, most outfitted with golden chains and jewelry. It felt tiny for such a sizable space...

" 'Sup?" the stallion asked, giving Cadence the once over. "I think you in the wrong place, girl. You sure you ain't lookin' fo 'Butterfly Boulevard' or 'Pretty Pony Place?' You look like you tryin' to be a princess or somethin'."

"Not at all, I'm exactly where I want to be," the mare responded airily. "Now uh, deck me out, if you'd be so kind."

An exchange of bits and some extremely judgmental looks later, Cadence walked out of the shop with ruffled, glitzy clothing and countless chains draped around her neck. There was only one other stop now. As she moved to the bling shop, she popped the collar of her outfit just for effect. After all, it couldn't hurt to stand out even more. The disbelief routine repeated itself in the second business, but the alicorn left with a small bag that contained her purchase and took flight back to Canterlot Castle and her chambers.

After enchanting one of her teeth to look golden in colour and putting on some shades, Cadence looked in the mirror and decided she was ready. To respond in kind to someone so hip and cool, she had to get on their level. And to the best of her ability, she had. She could walk anywhere in Hot Trot and be a hawt piece of flank. She tugged her scroll over and began to write.

Yo Wordplay,

What up homepony? Ain't nothin' but a thing, keep on bein' real playa. If yo lyrics speak from da heart, ain't no pony gonna tell you that you wrong. If it bring ponies to da hizzy, you doin' it right.

As for musical education, I was tutored in the finer points of chamber music and ochestral instruments, with my choice for focus being the viola. I've always appreciated its range and versatility, though sadly I have little time to practice it as of late. In my personal opinion however, I believe we ourselves already have the greatest instrument available to ponykind: our voices. I love to sing nearly every day, as it just seems to make everything a little better. Even dealing with the red tape of bureaucrats. And don't think that's necessarily out of the question for a public singing appearance, I might just take you up on it!

To your question regarding love being an inspiration, it's definitely a driving force in many aspects of life, but not the only one. While I will say from personal experience that your heart connecting to others is one of the most powerful things one can experience, you have to do what works for you. If you're inexperienced with relationships, give it time. Now, you can also turn your question around. Why not use your LOVE of music to inspire yourself? It doesn't require anypony but you, and never underestimate your own passions. I hope that helps!

Cadence then upended her bag and tugged over an ink pad, sliding the metal band of the inscribed jewelry over her foreleg and getting the stylized surface coated with the rose pigment. With a smile and a decisive thump, she wrote and stamped her parting words.

Word to yo mare,

Bdw9I.png

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[colour=#000080]Luna hesitantly opened the letter from Penumbra Dewdrop, recalling the last message she had had to decode from the same pony. But she couldn't just ignore it or put it off, seeing as that would be rude. She glanced at the note, forcing herself to see how bad it was—and was surprised to see a clean, well written letter this time. The princess smiled with relief, and set to work on a reply.[/colour]

Dear Penumbra,

I am glad to hear that things have been going well for you. It's great that your friends seemed to know just what you needed, even before I could offer my advice. Often friends know what is best for you, even if you do not realize it at the time, or if you don't believe them. It is a little odd that your friends can sometimes know you better than yourself.

I must admit, I did not mean to offer myself as a Penpal, but for the time being, I think it would be delightful. Perhaps you could even stop by the castle for a visit. After all, us night owls have to stick together, right? But I believe you should try for a Penpal who will be a bit more readily accessible for you to meet more often. Or perhaps the opposite would be to your fancy, writing to somepony in a far off city such as Fillydelphia or Appleloosa, and learning about their life.

The sky really is a lot to take in, I suppose. It doesn't matter how often I look at it, there is always something interesting happening in the sky or out in the world. Although, I couldn't quite tell you without being in your position whether or not a constellation is where you describe. There's this thing about being in a different area, at a different time, the stars are angled differently depending on where you stand, you know? But I have discovered there are plenty of books mapping out the stars—perhaps you could visit a library or bookstore for one.

As for your environment question, nature is quite important to Equestria. Weather is not nature, but things like rain and sun are required for things to grow. Ponies eat the food that comes from the ground. Without weather and nature, it would be pretty difficult to live. Everypony has to do their part in helping Equestria flourish, correct? Earth ponies are the best farmers, Pegasi are the best weather controllers, and Unicorn have dexterity provided by magic that helps create things to enhance the working conditions of everypony.

I myself got my hooves dirty from time to time in the beginnings of Equestria, when everypony was pulling more than their own weight in work. It may not have been easy, but if what exists today is any indication, it was certainly worth it. Consider that the Everfree Forest near Ponyville was formerly a pony controlled area, both farmed and weathered by ponies. Look at it now, without the helping hooves of the Earth, Pegasi, and Unicorn. Without the influence of ponies on the land, that would be the future of Equestria.

I look forward to seeing another letter from you shortly, Penumbra. Rest well, whenever suits you best.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna

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What was this? A young knight in training? How adorable! Well, it seemed adorable until Celestia started to read. Though the wording was cute, there was a single line that caught Celestia’s eye.

I am currenty training to be a great Destier knight just like my father was. I have already know all the vitures of the Librum by memory and Ive really been working on learning how to fight like a true knight! I think Im getting good at it though sometimes its scary and ponies tell me what im doing is dangerous and try and stop me and take away my fathers things especially his sword but I dont let them have it since its so important to me and I need it if Im ever going to be a knight like he was.

Everything was in past tense. She didn’t aspire to be like her father, she aspired to be like her father WAS. The innocence of a child belied missing guardian. Her response would have to be considered carefully.

Young Ardent Fate,

I know a good many things, but I wouldn’t quite say that I know EVERYTHING! But I know enough to give you a some of the advice you seek.

Being a knight is about more than fighting. The sword is not merely a weapon, it is a symbol of office and of dedication the values that a Destrier is sworn to uphold. The real mark of a knight is not the strength of her swing but the strength of her heart.

Being taken seriously by ponies you just met is always difficult. Respect is something that must be earned and it never comes quickly. A true knight is patient, humble, and kind, helpful to others, slow to anger and even slower to draw her sword. The greatest heroes win battles without fighting and win friends by the goodness in their hearts, not the number of manticores or timberwolves they’ve fought.

Like respect, a cutie mark is not terribly easy to earn. But if it were easy, it wouldn’t be nearly as rewarding. Try a little of everything, but don’t assume that the first thing that comes your way is your special talent. Have a little bit of fun with it. Who knows, you might find something unexpected that you enjoy a lot!

Finally, never be afraid to ask for help, Fate. An adult you trust can go a long way to helping you realize your dreams. Remember the words of your teachers and remember the loyalty of your friends. Long after swords and armor have rusted away, you will still have those by your side.

I wish you well on your journey of discovery, wherever it may take you.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

And here, a letter from a doctor with a psychology clinic in Canterlot. Heart Healer’s words were disheartening, but not unexpected. Things hadn’t quite returned to normal after the attack, but they would in time. Equestria had survived the Great Exodus, the Age of Discord, the War of Night, the return of Nightmare Moon, and the return of Discord; Celestia was certain they could weather the aftermath of Chrysalis. Perseverance and forward-thinking optimism was in their blood. With some thought, she began to pen a response.

Dear Heart Healer,

It is understandable that feelings of dis-ease remain after the attempted invasion. After all, ponies are creatures of habit and having those habits disrupted is bound to cause anyone distress. Don’t let a momentary peak in negativity get you down.

It is important to remember that feelings are just that: feelings. They come and go with a whim. While feelings are very important to leading a fulfilling life, they cannot be allowed to oppress you or restrict how you choose to fulfill your destiny. Establishing normalcy and staying transparent with your friends will ensure that you stay grounded when things get muddled and emotions run high.

In short, the best that you can do is to continue doing your work as you always have. There is no magic stronger than proper relationship-building and those who support it such as yourself.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

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Thunder Crash wasn't giddy, or overly excited, or hyper upon discovering that the royalty of Equestria was taking letters from the common people. No, rather, he was ponderous about whether he should even write a letter. A pirate corresponding with royalty? Was that really wise, at all, for him? He doubted it greatly. At the same time though, he did have his numerous curiosities, and he couldn't help but want to write to them. He was young and perhaps utterly foolish, but it was a chance he was willing to take.

Ah, but now who to write to?

Wait, why choose one over the other? He'd send a letter to each!

The paper he used was now, he supposed, a bit of a drawback... since, well, it gave him away. After all, the header did read...

From the desk of Thunder Crash,

Captain of The Deceitful Mare

Yeah... like that didn't give away that he was a pirate.

Dear Princess Celestia,

As you may have guessed thanks to the header, my name is Thunder Crash. Due to my vessel's name, you can probably ascertain my profession. Family business, very rewarding in fact... well, usually. Anyway... enough about that... I was wondering if you could enlighten me on something. You see, I like to think of myself as a student of history. Unfortunately, that also means that there is a rather large question that I've always drawn a blank on... and I suppose it's one that's rather personal for you and Luna.

...Where did you come from?

I suppose that must sound rude to ask so bluntly, but... I can't help but be curious. I mean... a unicorn and a pegasus can have little ones, but... they never come out to be like... well... you. That and... the earliest that I can recall finding anything in historical record about you and your sister is the first defeat of Discord so... that leaves a large question mark in the historical record, at least for me. I understand if you'd rather not divulge this information for personal reasons, as it is, after all, your personal history, and you are entitled to share as much or little of it as you wish. I'm just a young, curious, pirate captain.

Whatever your answer may be, I wish you well.

Sincerely and Curiously,

Thunder Crash.

Dear Princess Luna,

As you may have guessed thanks to the header, my name is Thunder Crash. Due to my vessel's name, you can probably ascertain my profession. I would like to start off by saying thank you. Without you, a life on the sea would never have been possible - not only for me and those of my certain profession, but for any sailor that wants to go further than a few miles from shore. It is because of you that we have been able to explore the oceans with the certainty of knowing where we are. It is because of your night sky, your moon and your stars, that we have been gifted with the ability to discover what lies beyond the shore, beyond what we can see from the beach, and for that... for that I sincerely thank you, and hope that you will know what this means for those of us who sail on the sea. It means that we can not only explore and trade, but be safe and secure as we do so (weather provided, of course).

Next... well.. I'll be up front with this. This question of mine deals with something you'd likely rather not talk about, and if that's so, that's perfectly fine and I can respect that.

...Yes, I'm going to ask something Nightmare Moon related...

You see, my crewmen have been talking about what happened oh so long ago and have two basic theories that they seem to rally behind and argue over. One is that she was just part of you. The other is that she was something... else. I personally didn't put much thought to the argument at first, but at some point it became inevitable that I would think about it. My hope, strange as this might sound, is that she was part of you... that is to say, something natural, something explainable, something... well, something that didn't possess you. Because... the latter absolutely terrifies me. If a princess with such power as you could fall victim to a spirit... what could happen to the rest of us?

So, my question, if of course you desire to answer something so personal, is this:

...Was Nightmare Moon you... or was she something else that possessed you?

If you choose to answer, rest assured, your answer will stay between us if you wish it to.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Thunder Crash

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sitting on the ground near his peddler's wagon as the sun began to set, Mojo decided he was going to stop putting it off any longer. The hippie brony wanted to write letters to Equestrian royalty for a very long time. Now that he was camped out and ready to relax, the Paint stallion with the peace sign cutie mark reach for a quill and ink to begin composing his letters:

[colour=#8B4513]Dear Princess Celestia:[/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]How ya been, babe? Hope you're havin' a groovy time being one of our benevelant rulers in this lovely land! If ya don't mind me sayin' this, you sure are lookin' marvy for someone your age. LOVE the way ya raise the sun every day! Keep up the good work![/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Gotta ask ya some questions, if ya don't mind, love. First of all, have ya ever gotten hitched? A swingin' royal mare like yourself has probably had quite a few gents who have asked for your hoof in marriage. YEAH BABY![/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Second, could ya swing me an invite to the next Grand Gallopin' Gala? It would be positively smashing if I could come this time around. I could even bring me guitar and sing some of me best folks song for the crowd. I hear chicks really dig musicians, so if I could play at the Gala, I could land a lotta dates with some groovy mares! [/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]One more question, sweetie baby. Heard ya had a little run in with changlings recently. Major bummer for those vandals to show up at your niece's weddin' like that. Changlings are total squares! They're not hip like you and me are, love. I have mixed up a natural herbal remedy that ya could use as a changling repellent. Would ya like for me to come up there to the castle to letcha try it out?[/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Later, babe![/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Mojo[/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Dear Princess Luna:[/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]How's me favorite moon Princess babe? I do some of me best thinkin' at night! That's when me creative juices align with the moon and stars, givin' me extra good vibes to write poetry and create works of art. You do a rippin' good job raisin' the moon up every night. Good show![/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]I'm a bit curious about a few things, love. First, I know you've been away for a while, a real bad scene I don't wanna upset ya about, but could ya tell me what has changed the most for ya since ya got back? Second, your beauty really outta be preserved on canvass, would you be groovy with ya if I visited the castle and painted a portrait for you? It'd be my honor, sweetie! [/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]One last question, love. Heard ya had a bit of a rhubarb at last year's Nightmare Night. Will ya be comin' back for a return appearance this year? If ya do, I'll treat ya to a cup of me own special cider! It's all natural, all herbal and it'll really put a sparkle in yur eyes.[/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Later moon babe![/colour]

[colour=#8B4513]Mojo[/colour]

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Wordplay had been preparing for school, had a half eaten piece of toast with jam atop it when her mother had burst in, wild. Wordplay had had to assure her mother that she was not in trouble with the Royal Family, and no, she was not going to officially be working for them in any capacity. With that taken care of, Wordplay had put aside her breakfast, read the letter. Her eyebrows had gone from their normal positions to very raised, her her expression had gone from vaguely tired to completely vague, as if she were suffering from a trance, she scribbled a few words onto the closest thing one could write on. She took her paper, her toast, left without even saying goodbye to her parents. All the way to the nearest mailbox, into which she dropped her very informal letter- actually written on a napkin:

Yo,

Trying too hard.

WordplA

Wordplay shook her head, came out of her sarcasm-fueled reverie just in time to realize what she had done. Well, it was too late to grab it out of the mail now. She might as well make a follow up, so that there was a chance she wouldn't be put on a list of mares to be banished to the moon or the Everfree or the Everfree on the moon. Wait, did that even exist?

Dear Princess Cadence,

Uh... can we pretend that last bit of a letter just didn't happen? Let's just say I was surprised by your choice of parting words. They were very, erm, strong.

Now, I'm happy that our Princesses are also very musical in nature - though to be honest all the random musical numbers probably see to that- and I definitely expected at the very least classical instrument training. I can only play the piano, and not very well, so I bet you're far better than me in that regard. Actually you're probably just far better than me in all aspects. I'm curious about the red tape comment too, did you actually sing in some official setting out of boredom like you implied? Did it lead to a musical number?

And I figured that was going to be it. I was seriously blushing just trying to write that bit about love to you. I love my music, and I love being cheeky to others- in a loving way I mean- so you can imagine I don't have much time for stallions- or mares- in my life. I guess that'll all be in good time, right? What would you say your key inspiration in life is, right now? Love? I bet it's love, isn't it?

One final thing, does Shining Armor sing or do anything musically? And yes, I suggest you two duet if you are both musically inclined. The amount of mares squealing at such a thing if it happened would be audible throughout Equestria.

Please don't do the 'popping fresh' thing next time or I'll do something dumb again,

Wordplay

Oh, also Your Faithful Subject.

Her letter sent, Wordplay went on with her day, starting with her still half-eaten toast.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Penumbra had to be honest, she was surprised that the Princess would actually take her up on her offer. To be a penpal to a Princess of Equestria, the one she identified with most, no less... It was quite a shock to the midnight worker. She had had to sit on that letter for a few days, not really sure what to say or how to respond, what would be appropriate, how to not look like a foal...

It had come to her in the middle of her usual night shift, when she had had her hooves full with rainclouds destined for the other side of the mountain, since they didn't want rain marring the skies over Canterlot the next day for whatever reason. She had been halfway through one flight, when the idea had suddenly popped into her head. She had thrown the cloud away virtually, dashed all the way to her home, written her letter, and promptly dashed back to her job. Exhausting, but totally worth it.

Dear Princess Luna,

Oh, my friends are simply the greatest. But then, everypony says that about their friends. I guess everypony's just great like that, aren't they? Okay, you might not agree with that one hundred percent but the optimism counts for something, right?

My heart stopped when you suggested I stop by the castle. I doubt that'll happen anytime soon, but to be honest I would throw myself off Canterlot Mountain if that ever had even a chance to become a reality. Do I sound like too much of a fangirl here? Sorry if I do, I'm exaggerating here. Sort of. A bit. Okay, I really would throw myself off the mountain if I had a shot at meeting you in person. Please don't hold that against me? Besides, I can fly. So the spur of the moment rash decision wouldn't really hurt me anyways.

I looked into a book, and I actually think I was looking at the Plneighades. And you're right, I tried to find them in the sky again and I couldn't this time. Your night sky is so complex, it's cool!

So you're saying that the Everfree would be our fate if we didn't tame nature to the extent that we did? I guess we really need ponies like me, don't we? Not trying to toot my own horn or anything here, just saying. But what was it like, really? Before, when you had to work the make the land good for the ponies? Is that an experience you can comfortably recount?

Your Faithful Subject,

Penumbra Dewdrop

Penumbra smiled as she felt the cloud between her hooves. By Luna- irony of her oath not lost on her- she had a role in the grand scheme of things. Now that made her night.

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