Dear Benign,

It was merely curiosity that brought me to ask how things were going. I had never expected such an answer back. I don't see why you can't tell me everything about what happened, but there must be some reason you feel it is so important to be vague with me. Where are you, Ben? Where is Songring located at now? I need to know this because I'm coming out there to meet you. If things are really as bad as you say, I don't want you stuck out there without help. Just give me some directions, and I will get the balloon ready to go.

Your comfort with the concept of bloodshed is making me even more upset when I consider what it must be like out there. You've accepted the idea of violence since you were that little? Who taught you that? I don't know if your words are truly relaying the carnage that might have taken place. For all I know, half of your settlement's been burned to the ground, and you're acting like it was just a mean letter and a burning bag left on your doorstep one morning. I just really want to know that you're safe.

As you requested, I did my best to not mention the specifics of your letter to anypony here. I
must not be very good at hiding things though, because each of our friends grew concerned and tried to pressure me into telling them what was wrong. I wouldn't lie, so I just had to inform them that you asked me not to say how things were going. Rainbow Dash would not let me get away with that, so I had to tell her. She, along with everypony else, is wondering if you're going to be okay. They want you to come back too after hearing how it is out there. In reference to your wanting to use the word “home” when referring to Ponyville, it isn’t too silly given the circumstances.

If all I can do is help ease your mind for a while though, so be it. Things are going fairly well here
in Ponyville; however, we've had a few problems with dragons and insects recently. Creatures
both big and small wish to be problematic this year. What can we do though? Life is always
going to have its ups and downs. At least the worst of our problems amount to only reptiles and
bugs. A few birthdays are right around the corner, including the one Pinkie says she's going to
count as yours. She wants to know if you've been using that booklet she gave you, and if you by chance want her to send along a slice of cake for you out there in Songring. The crusaders also came around asking where you had gone. I think they were painfully bored one day and thought that maybe if you were here you could have assuaged that for them. They asked a lot of questions that I couldn't answer for them: What does Songring look like now? Is it like Ponyville with houses and shops yet? I'd appreciate some sort of image to weave for them next time they come asking, and I'm sure giving them a personal message from you would really make their day.

Don't be scared Ben. If you will just say the word, I'll be there as soon as I can. I promise.

Anticipatingly Yours,
Twilight Sparkle

Dear Dusk Twinkle,

I just got around to reading your letter since the caravan is about to leave and I wanted to make
sure my reply was in the courier's possession by the time they ship off tomorrow. I have been
rather busy since this letter arrived, albeit that I have just been spending the better part of my day haggling prices, sitting in the shower with a chubby mercenary, and pounding one of the settlers' faces into the bank of the river in fit of unbridled rage. Needless to say, I'm glad I found a free moment to write to you.

I am afraid that I will withhold the information as to where we are located for the sole purpose of
thwarting your attempt to come and see me. As wonderful as such sounds, I just cannot bring
myself to both waste your time, and risk your health with such a venture. The trip could take a
long time by balloon, and I don't think that if everything were to hit the fan at once I would want
you here to see it. I understand that you worry quite a bit if I am abbreviating the situation just to
appease you, but it's getting to the point that you're just not trusting me. Try not to concern
yourself so much, alright? I am not alone out here: I have a lot of tough ponies here to help take
care of me, and we seem to have made it through the worst of the attacks. We have everything
under control here, so no need to inconvenience yourself by trekking out this far.

I suppose some things just cannot be kept secret. I can trust that you did not wear a gloomy or
severe expression while you were trying to inform everyone of how I was? That might have been your dead giveaway and why they were pressuring you. I get the feeling that lying is not really an art form around these parts though, so I will not hold it against you that Rainbow must have practically tortured the information out of you. Just try to ease their minds with the knowledge that the situation has improved, even if some of the settlers are becoming more and more of a pain to deal with each day. It is just personal problems now instead of safety issues.

Tell Pinkie that the cake she'd send would get intercepted long before it got to me. She should
not be concerned about it, however, as we have a very talented chef here with us. Julienne
Spice has been single-handedly (hoofedly?) preparing the entire settlement's food each day
since before we left the shore of the Light Waters. We are certainly not without good food to
keep us in high spirits here. Please pass this information along to Pinkie as well if that is part of
her concern.

As for what you can tell the Crusaders about where I am, I'm afraid that Songring looks nothing
like Ponyville. In fact, we only have four structures erected that I know of: A large, two-story,
dining hall; a bathhouse, which is simply a large walled-off waterfall; the wall that keeps
Springfield's farm out of reach of the tanks; and lastly, the top room of my office on the
mountainside. Well, that and a depot that I rarely remember because I only had it constructed to
placate our troublesome caravan owner. There is hardly anything like Ponyville, considering the
housing is in the form of small apartments that have been carved within a corridor inside the
mountain. It's a little cavernous when wandering the stone halls, but certainly cozy. We are
located in a forested valley with mountains on every side of us, the smallest being located to our
south. Through the middle of the valley runs a river called the Charmedsmile, separating the
valley in two. All of our constructions are currently located on the northern partition of the valley,
but perhaps the idea of striving to make this place appear more hospitable like Ponyville will push
me to begin some expansion on the southern side. Maybe now is a good time to help these
settlers finally move out of their little rooms in the mountainside?

As for a personal message for the crusaders, all I can say is that even the most tiring of days
here is still less exhausting than one afternoon with them. Okay, no, for something serious to tell
them, let them know that I think I know a few things for them to try that might help them find their
talents. I've learned quite a bit myself, and if they're interested, I have plenty of stories of the
frontier to share with them when I get back. Perhaps that'll get their spirits up a bit, or they'll just
blow it off as children are wont to do. Either is possible.

Survivably Yours,
Benjamen Prodder