[i]“I made a friend today! She was playing in the water by the cove. I said hello and we had a race. She won, of course!

I’ve never met a hippogriff. Her name--”[/i]

Birchbud stopped her quill. 

She didn’t know her name. She hadn’t actually met her. But she had seen the stranger playing at the end of the beach near her parents’ cottage. It was evening now, the end of the first day of summer. White gold in the sky turned amethyst and dusky blue.

The quill glowed orange and rose again, scratching out the last line.

[i]“She’s so pretty and fun. I can’t wait to hang out with her again.”[/i]

Birchbud smiled as she waited for the ink to dry, then put the paper away. 

[i]It’s a nice story,[/i] she thought.



In the years her family had spent summering here, Birchbud had rarely met anypony her own age. The next day, though, an unusual-looking foal appeared on the nextdoor lanai, reading a book about marine animals. Birchbud was also interested in marine animals!

“Ocellus,” someone called from inside, and the foal disappeared. Birchbud sighed.

[i]“Ocellus and I have a lot in common,"[/i] she wrote that night. [i]"I don’t think we’ll ever run out of things to talk about. She knows so many interesting things!”[/i]



On the third day Birchbud ventured out with a book about invertebrates. It was so interesting that she walked right into a young earth pony in the middle of the path.

“Hey, you okay? What’s your name? I’m Sandbar.” He had a friendly voice.

At that moment, Birchbud panicked. “I...Brr..uhh...I gotta go!”

“Oh, cool cool. Later, Bruh!”

That evening she sat out on the deck of the cottage, watching turtles play in the surf. She looked at a blank piece of paper, picked up her quill and began to write.

[i]“Ever meet somepony and just know you’re going to be good friends? I could probably tell Sandbar anything. But then sometimes you don’t have to say anything at all, you know? Today he asked me to sit with him, and we just sat with our hooves in the surf. 

His eyes are warm like the sea.”[/i]

Cheeks burning, she put her papers away. 

[i]I should try to talk to them,[/i] she thought.

[i]What if they don’t like me?[/i]



Midsummer came. Late one afternoon the three were playing together on the beach, keeping a ball in the air. Birchbud sat in the shade outside, watching them play, watching a sailboat on the water. The breeze whistled over the empty bottles on the deck behind her.

“Good one, Silver!” Sandbar cheered.

Silverstream, Sandbar, Ocellus. She imagined going sailing with the three of them. Laughing together. Best of friends.

A harsh thought interrupted: [i]You can’t even say hello.[/i]

Birchbud’s heart sank. She went inside to where she kept her stories. Watching the sailboat through her window, listening to the singing breeze, she had an idea.



Later, she walked toward the water, down the beach from where the other children played. Her magic carried a bottle holding a folded paper ship with sails full of stories.

[i]They’ll find this and be so flattered,[/i] she thought. [i]Then I’ll introduce myself.[/i]

She tossed the bottle to the waves and instantly regretted it.

[i]They’ll freak out! I have to get it back![/i]

But soon it was out of reach of her magic, dancing on the water, and Silverstream had noticed it. She swooped for the bottle and brought it ashore. Birchbud hesitated, then galloped toward her.

“Is that writing?” asked Ocellus as the trio gathered around.

“That’s mine!” Birchbud gasped. “Sorry! Can...Can I have it back, please?”

“Oh, hey, Bruh! No need to apologize.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Birchbud’s my name. Sor--uh--thank you.”

“Birchbud!” said Sandbar. “It's good to see you again. Wanna come to our bonfire tonight?”

Her heart jumped. [i]Oh no,[/i] she thought.

“Okay,” she said, and fled again.



Dark fell. The three friends smiled when Birchbud returned.

“Nice to meet you, Birch,” said Silverstream.

“Hi,” said Ocellus.

“Make yourself at home,” Sandbar waved. “We’re just chillin’.” 

For a long time they sat in silence. The waves crashed. The moon rose. Birchbud began to relax. The fire crackled, and she stirred it with magic the color of the flame’s outmost edge. 

“Pretty!” Silverstream exclaimed.
 
They talked and Birchbud watched and listened, and she learned about her new friends. Sandbar sat on the blanket beside her. After a while he turned and asked:

“So, Birchbud, know any good stories?”