Petina happily trotted out to our mailbox in my Equestria dreamscape. Opening the box she looked inside noticed that the carrot nut muffin she placed in there this morning was gone and in its place were several envelopes and an obviously quickly written note.
 
“Thank you for the muffin!” Was all it said.
 
Petina smiled, she rather liked Derpy and enjoyed her very nonjudgemental view of other ponies and the world. The grey mare added a special charm to the town of Ponyville. With the mail collected she sauntered back to our cottage.
 
Using her horn to close the Dutch door behind her she trotted into the dining room and deposited the letters on the dining room table. A few minutes later the pure white unicorn came back to the table with a fresh cup of coffee and a thick slice of blueberry crumb cake.
 
Most the mail that arrived at our little cottage was addressed to her. She handled the house finances and her writing career was beginning to go somewhere. In fact under the pen name Passionate Plume she was becoming one of the most popular authors for magazine Wild Stallions! The Intimate Journal For Young Mares. and she was hopefully of finding a publisher soon for her first novel The Forbidden Desires Of Lady Fair Hooves! So now she was corresponding with ponies all over Equestria and her editor was starting to forward ever larger bundles of fan mail, which tickled her fancy. Things were progressing very nicely for her.
 
However it was the letter at the top of the pile that caught her attention. It was for her but it originated from the one of the most southernly cities in Equestria, the coastal resort town of Ft. Trotterdale. The writer of the letter went by the pen name of The Mistress of Mischief which was enough to peak Petina’s curiosity.
 
Tearing open the envelope produced a single sheet of paper with quick, scratchy writing on it. As she read the contents of the letter a bigger and bigger grin grew on her face.
 
Greetings Petina DePony. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scratch. I am professional singer, composer, dancer, and artist. In last few months I have become aware of the stunning dance routines that you and partner Carousel have been performing at a local establishment in your community.
 
Of even greater importance I learned that you and Carousel were instrumental in coaching and developing the dance routine that Rainbow Dash used to bring the house down in Cloudsdale. Unfortunately I was unable to attend but based on eyewitness accounts your dance technique excited the crowd like never before!
 
I want to tap into the energy that your dance technique is capable of creating. I have a new tour starting this fall and I want make your technique part of my tour. I wish to hire the services of both you and Carousel to make this reality. Also it has come to my attention that the stallion of your house one Sky Brush is a natural when it comes to cloud and steam manipulation. This is a talent I would like to consult him about for developing stage effects.
 
Now I understand that all of you are working professionals and that one cannot simply run off on a whim without some form of compensation.
 
So this is what I am willing to do. I would require the services of your household for a duration of no greater than 6 weeks. Not including travel time. If you are willing to come down to Ft. Trotterdale I will cover all rail, steamship, hotel room and meal expense for you journey both here and back. Once you’ve arrived here you’ll receive free room, board and drinks at Silver Mirror Estate; where I am planning my next tour.
 
On top of your room, board and onsite bar stipend you and Carousel will be paid 150 bits a week for your expertise. Sky Brush will be paid 75 bits a week. I would be needing your services from the beginning of May through to about the second week of June.
 
If you are interested please contact my offices in Manehattan they will make all the travel and financial arrangements. I hope you will take the offer. I’m very interested in getting to know you better!
 
 
Sincerely
 
Scratch
 
 
Carousel was working out in the garden on our property. It was quiet morning and she’d just finished weeding the cucumber patch. She enjoyed times like this when she could truly feel her earth pony connection to the land. It was so peaceful.
 
She never saw the white blur approaching her until it bowled her over. When the world stopped spinning she found herself looking up at Petina who had this big goofy grin plastered across her face. The unicorn had piece of paper levitating along side her.
 
“Carousel! Look at what came in the mail! Look!” Petina proceeded to shove the letter into Carousel’s face. Literally. From behind the paper the mare muttered.
 
“Petina I can’t read anything with it wrapped over my face!”
 
“Oh! Sorry! Hee, hee! Guess I’m kind of excited!”
 
Carousel grabbed the letter with her front hoofs and sat up. “Couldn’t tell.” She said sarcastically. Silently she started reading the letter. As she did a smile started spreading across her face.
 
“Is this legit? Is this for real?”
 
“Looks like it!” Said the white unicorn. “We need to discuss this with Brick when he gets home!” Petina was now prancing in place.
 
Carousel got to her hoofs. “Yeah, can he get the time off from work? Also how will Rainbow Dash take him suddenly going out of town for over a month? Or for that matter any of us leaving for that long?”
 
Petina scrunched her face up. “Hmmm, we’ll need to talk to them when they stop by for lunch. I don’t know if Dash was planning on spending the night here, or not. Heck she might drag Brick up to her place for the evening.”
 
Carousel nodded her head. “Well one way or another we need to do some talking so we don’t get our signals crossed. I’m going to wash up and then head into town to get some lunch. Care to join me?”
 
Petina nodded her head and followed the palomino mare back to the cottage.
 
To be continued.