I wake up to the sound of crying. Sighing deeply I take Dinky into my arms and check look for what could be making cry, she wasn't hungry, and she was clean, she couldn't have hurt herself. She continues crying and kicking her legs. I finally decide to do something that always calms her down.
Ever since I found her, I immediately started looking for ways to calm her down. I found that putting honey on her pacifier always relaxed her. Though I found this trick by complete accident, Dinky calmed down once I gave it to her. She ceased her crying and started to relax. When her eyes started to droop I tried setting her down.
She began crying as soon as I made the motion. I pick her up again, and bring her over my shoulder. I flap my wings and cradle her in my arms. She begins to sleep again as she continues enjoying her treat. When I try a second time when I'm sure she's asleep, she opens her eyes and begins to cry again, she looks up to me and I can't help but feel guilty.
"What's wrong Dinky?" I ask her in my most gentle voice possible. She then begins to reach her hoof to me. I pick her up once more.
"Are you afraid of something?" I ask her, she hides her eyes into my chest, and dampens my fur with her tears.
"You are afraid." I say to her. She doesn't stop crying.
"Shh," I say as gently as possible. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll be here for you." I smile down at her when she looks up to me once more, large trusting eyes trained on my face. I decide to do something my mother always did for me when I was young and scared, though with alterations.
"Hush now my little one, there's no need to fear,
For you'll be alright as long as I'm here,
You're nightmares are done, so you can stop your tears,
For you'll be alright, cause I'll always be here.
When you feel scared, remember that I'll always protect you,
Even when danger seems to come through,
Remember you're never alone, and that you are loved by me too,
For you are my little Dinky, and I'll always love you.
Fortunately her eyes begin to close, but instead of setting her down, I dip her pacifier in honey again and stick it in her mouth, I then sit on the edge of my bed not setting her down. I slowly rock her until she's asleep. I sigh in relief once she smiles in her sleep.
I spin y body around and lay down on the pillows, making sure I'm still propped up. She's completely calm the whole morning, her mouth never ceasing to stop, and she continues until morning.
I finally get the chance to breathe once half of the mail's delivered. My neck was sore from reading the addresses and looking over my shoulder. And the pain in my wings was unbearable. My lungs felt like they would burst from the icy air. I hope that I didn't mix up the addresses, otherwise it's come out of my paycheck.
My legs felt weak and I could barely stand without having to lean on something for support. I wish I didn't skip breakfast this morning. But I could eat when I got home. Where a innocent little filly needed me.
I heave a sigh as I flap my wings and take off. I only hovered for a few seconds before I fell to the ground. I was too weak to use them anymore.
'Oh no!'
"Hey Derpy!" Carrot Top said. I jump.
"Gah!" I shout out.
"Woah, jumpy aren't we?" She said.
"Sorry," I say once I've recovered. "I didn't expect to see you."
"No sweat, I wanted to talk with you, it's been a while. I'd love to catch up." She said, smiling at me.
"Oh, sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush." I say, stuffing the mail in the mail slot.
"Oh a little chat wouldn't hurt." She said. I smile back nervously, I was panicking on the inside, because every one of Carrot's 'little chats' always led to a three hour conversation at the least. I have to think of a lie and fast. I glance to my left and see a pony coughing.
An idea pops into my head.
"Sorry, but I'm not feeling too well." I say, bringing a hoof to my stomach.
"Oh you poor thing, it's a wonder why they let you deliver mail this way, how unsanitary. Tell you what, I'll stop by your house later and make you some of my prized carrot soup. That always makes me feel better."
I grew even more nervous, I just worsened the problem. "No! That's okay, you don't have to do that. It's not that bad."
"I insist, it'll warm you right up after a day like this one." She said.
"No, no, I wouldn't want you to get sick, trust me." I say, walking to the next address.
"Are you sure?" She says, clearly confused.
"Positive." I say. Before she can say anything else, I walk away quickly, zipping through the road.
By the time I finish with the first bag, it's nearly noon. Now would be a better time than any to check on Dinky.
Every second, I look over my shoulder to see if anyone would see me, and I quickly change course to a different route to my home whenever I heard so much as a laugh or the wheels of a cart, taking my several more minutes to get home. But, eventually I make it through the backdoor.
Everything is quiet as usual. I grab a few muffins I set out the night before and eat them hurriedly. I go into the bedroom to check on her, finding her fast asleep, suckling on her pacifier slightly. I couldn't help but have my heart melt at the scene. She looked so peaceful in her state.
Just for good measure, I decide to make that relaxing solution for her real quickly before I could leave. I go into the kitchen, getting out honey and one of the many pacifiers I bought. Unfortunately for me though, I spotted Carrot Top coming in the distance, apparently balancing that soup she insisted on.
'Oh no.' I say. 'I can't let her see me here!' I duck to the ground just as I hear a knock on the door.
"Ditzy? You in there? I brought that Carrot Soup." She said. A few more minutes stretched on. She decided to knock again. "Derpy? It's me, Carrot Top?" She said. I crouched down to the ground, holding the end of the pacifier in my mouth and moving as quickly and silently pass the door as I could. My hair seemed to stand on end when I heard a rustle of blankets from the other room.
'Oh please Dinky, not now.' I thought. I rushed as quickly as I could muster. I breathe a quick sigh of relief once I get to the bedroom door, and slip inside. I find Dinky in there, just beginning to open and rub her eyes. Her eyes caught on to me, and she reached with a smile.
"Shh." I said, holding a hoof to my mouth. I pop her pacifier in place, and her lidded eyes slide close. I can't help but straighten a curve in her hair and straighten the pillow. I turn around and head for the door. Stopping for just a second to turn back around.
Before I exit the room, I decide to plant a quick kiss on her forehead and head out.
I managed to slip out the back door and get back to delivering the mail. I moved much faster this time, no way do I ever want to encounter another experience with the carrot soup.
'That was a really close call.' I thought as I set a package on the doorstep. 'Just a few days from having her as my own. Then I won't have to deal with all of this anymore.'
But apparently, just as I turned around, with the way my day was going, I just so happened to find myself face to face with a certain Doctor Whooves. But to my even bigger surprise, was holding out flowers to me.
"Hello Derpy." He said while looking to his right and turning a light shade of red. I couldn't tell if it was from the cold, or if he was just blushing.
"H-hello Doctor." I say, craning my head back to look at the. They were vibrant and colorful. It's a wonder how he managed to get these type in this weather. Considering that roses and daises weren't often seen in the winter time.
"Are these for me?" I ask, starting to blush myself.
"Well, yeah I suppose. I mean, do you like them?" He asked. I take a sniff and sigh at the smell.
"They're lovely. How'd you manage to get these?" I asked.
"Oh, I decided to grow a few flowers in my home not too long ago for an experiment. I had a few left over, so-"
"I love them." I said, giving the pleasant fragrance another sniff.
"Oh that's okay, they're out of sea- wait, really?" He asked.
"Of course. These are beautiful Doctor." The doctor blushed again.
"Well, I was..." He looked to his hooves and started twiddling them. "...hoping you'd be able to get some dinner Friday?" He said questionably. I was so shocked and taken back by this. I always liked the doctor, but I never thought that he could've felt the same way. It wasn't until a gush of wind came in with reality that I snap out of my trance.
'I have to get to Dinky! I don't have another second to lose.'
"Um.." I said, jumping into the air as I began to hover over the ground.
"I'll think about it, let me see if my schedule's clear." I said. The look of disappointment on his face was heart wrenching.
"Ok then. I guess that I'll see you later then." He sad. With that, he took a turn and trudged home. His scarf dragged in the snow and seemed to take my heart with it.
'I'm sorry Doctor.'
By the time I had made it to the office, It was One, and I was beat. I turned in the other bag, not saying a word before I simply walk out. The walk home was difficult, I felt light headed and my knees were going weak again. I nearly ran into several ponies on the street and knocked them over.
After what feels like an hour, I make it to my house. I teeter inside and lock the door behind me. Landing face first onto the sofa.
Right then Dinky started crying.
I sighed heavily.