Our little cottage has suddenly been buzzing with activity in my Equestria dreamscape. Rainbow Dash's request for Petina and Carousel's help with creating a dance/ flight routine for the Best Young Fliers Competition [link] has unleashed a flurry of activity. Within a day RD was able to provide a copy of the rules and map of the arena along history of the competition.

After carefully poring over the rules Petina happily announced that there was nothing rules that said that contestants could not touch the flight pylons. Usually flier tried avoid them but there was nothing in rules that said a contestant would be marked down points or disqualified if they intentionally touched them during the course of the performance. Also Rainbow Dash was able to provide exact dimensions and could from personal experience verify that the pylons were very solid and quite durable. Petina and Carousel were positively giddy. They were going to able to introduce a style dancing that even they had not been able to do at the Bucking Mare for lack of proper equipment. This guaranteed that if could keep Rainbow Dash's training secret they would be able unveil a completely new and exciting performance at the competition. Now they just had to figure out how to install pole/ pylon in our barn. With some scrounging they had found a decent gramophone. Next they started searching for records for Dash to practice to. I winced a bit when I saw what it was doing to the house account but the girls assured me they were staying in budget. For the moment.

While the mares started hunting for the right equipment, Petina also began searching for the other necessary elements for the performance. One would be the right music. Petina began writing letters to several musicians and composers that she had apparently made connections with during the Canterlot Music Festival last year. After several rounds of correspondence and debate they decided a modified fast tempo flamenco style of music would have the right effect and be performable by the band at the event.

Next would be the matter of costuming. Dash initially saw no point to it but Petina and Carousel were able to eventually persuade her of its importance. After some hesitation they approached Rarity for help. Ponyville's resident fashion expert was rather excited at the idea, and made a Pinkie Promise not the tell any other pony about the project. Rarity then began making sketches of possible accessories for Dash. However she insisted that she'd have watch a couple of Dash's lessons so she could better understand how the outfit would have to interact with RD.

Because of this Rainbow Dash was making more frequent visits to our cottage she could spend time with helping me prepare for my upcoming weather and navigation exams. Since part of my navigation exam would require me to fly a pre-selected route, RD decided this was an excellent chance to introduce to the pegasi way stations that dot the Equestrian landscape. They are usually located in remote locations, like on mountain ridges and they provide a place for a pegasus to get out the weather, rest, replenish water bottles, and get their bearings if they have become lost. They also often have logs one can sign saying that you've passed through an area. If pegasus goes missing while traveling long distances these logs can often help narrow down the search area for search parties. Also the way stations almost always offer that which traveler most often need. Bathrooms.

Now having done a far bit of hiking, fishing, hunting and camping in my time and I immediately appreciated the availability of that most important little room out in the wilds, but I have also on many occasions just had to find a secluded place while outdoors to take care of business. I have never had a need yet in my Equestria dreams to do it out in the wilderness but I just assumed that if one was flying and no other pony was nearby and no settlements underneath that a pegasus pony might just take care of business while on the wing like birds do or maybe land on a cloud. Especially if one could be tidy about it. Therefore when I made the rhetorical statement I discovered I had accidentally brought up the much discouraged topic of Plop Bombing. Apparently in the days before unification it was the one of the things that earth ponies and unicorns found most infuriating about the pegasi was their willingness treat everything underneath them as a suitable site for the disposal of unwanted pegasi refuse. When Equestria was founded it was one of the changes that pegasi agreed to address in the interest of harmony and tranquility with their new neighbors. As a result pegasi now are rather anal-retentive, pun intended, when it comes to the proper handling of bodily waste. Plop Bombing is a big, big no no. In fact it is only due to the fact that I was not born a pegasus that Rainbow Dash didn't jump on me more for saying it. Well you learn something everyday.

To be continued.