Dear new diary,
Hi! My name is Derpy Hooves. I’m going to be writing in you from now on. I feel sad that I had to stop writing in my old diary. But you’re way bigger, so I should be able to write a whole novel in you!
The year is almost over and I still haven’t written my letter to Princess Celestia! I want to tell Princess Celestia everything that’s happened to me, but would she have time to read it? Ms. Windfall won’t mind, but I really want Princess Celestia to read what I write.
I haven’t seen Claws since Hearth’s Warming. That was a whole three days ago. I hope he’s okay. I keep leaving bowls of food out for him, but they’re always still there the next morning.
I’m sorry this wasn’t a happier entry. Maybe things will get better.
Bye for now, New Diary!
Dear Diary,
Claws came back! I didn’t see him for a whole week. I woke up yesterday morning and found him lying in front of a bowl of food I’d left out for him. I was so happy that I wanted to rush inside and make him the biggest sandwich ever! But when I got closer, I saw he didn’t look too good. His face was all scratched up and the ribbon I gave him was torn.
Me and Peaceful Skies had to take Claws to the pet hospital. The vet said Claws probably got into a fight with another cat. He’s okay, though. Right now Claws is lying on my bed all bandaged up. He’s looking at me. I wonder if he wants to write something. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could read Claws’s mind?
Another short entry. I just wanted to write about what happened to Claws.
See you later, Diary!
Dear Diary,
Winter break is over and it’s the new year! Ms. Windfall had a big smile on her face when she welcomed everypony back to class. She said she missed all of us. I missed her too!
I didn’t finish my letter to Princess Celestia. Luckily, I’m not the only one! A whole bunch of ponies didn’t finish their letters either. Ms. Windfall said that’s okay. She’s happy we were all so excited about the project.
In the meantime, Ms. Windfall gave us a book to read. The book is called “Sunflower Soup for the Soul”. It’s filled with stories and quotes from ponies. I read a little of it while I walked home with Peaceful Skies. There are a lot of big words, but I think I understand what the ponies are saying most of the time. The book is about success and how to overcome common fears and phobias. It was written by somepony named “A.K. Yearling”. I’ve never heard of her.
Claws is almost recovered. I thought he’d run away once he could walk properly, but he seems to like it in my room. Peaceful Skies went out and bought Claws a big bag of cat food and a few toys. Claws’s favorite thing to do is just sit on the windowsill and stare out the window. He just sits there for hours and hours, staring at the sky. I wish I knew why he likes it so much.
Claws says hello, Diary! (But I wish he’d stop batting my books out of my hooves)
Dear Diary,
I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s bad. Everything was going so well. I was really enjoying “Sunflower Soup for the Soul” and everypony seemed happy.
Something happened with Peaceful Skies again. I don’t fully get it, but it made Button Nose mad and there was a lot of yelling. I’ve never heard Button Nose say bad words before. I had to cover Claws’s ears!
I went downstairs to eat breakfast this morning. Claws came with me. He doesn’t usually like leaving my room, but sometimes he hitches a ride on my back. I was going to greet Button Nose and Peaceful Skies like I always do. But when I went into the kitchen, Peaceful Skies was sitting at the table and Button Nose was looking angry. There was a piece of paper on the table, but I didn’t get to read it. Button Nose was yelling at Peaceful Skies about something. I tried to tell them to stop being mad, but they wouldn’t listen to me! Button Nose said something about Mom and Peaceful Skies told her to calm down. I think Peaceful Skies wrote a letter to Mom and it made Button Nose mad. But why would she be mad? Doesn’t Button Nose like Mom?
I could only stand being there for a few minutes. I hastened back to my room and closed the door. I was afraid if I stayed, I’d get yelled at too! I just sat on my bed hugging Claws for the longest time.
Button Nose and Peaceful Skies finally stopped arguing. I don’t know how long it took. Maybe two hours. I went downstairs again to see if they were done. Button Nose was making pancakes and Peaceful Skies was nowhere to be seen. I asked Button Nose where Peaceful Skies was, but she wouldn’t answer. She smiled at me, but it wasn’t a real smile. It was the kind of smile Mom gave me when she found out I probably wasn’t going to be a Wonderbolt.
It’s really late at night. I have school tomorrow, so I should get to bed soon. But how can I sleep? Peaceful Skies still isn’t home. I want to find him and tell him everything is okay. “Sunflower Soup for the Soul” taught me that sometimes that’s all anypony needs. I know Button Nose will be mad at me if I do this, but I can’t help myself. I’m gonna go out and find him. I think I might know where he is. I’m taking Claws with me to protect me from all the monsters.
Wish me all the luck in Equestria, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I found Peaceful Skies! It was a lot of hard work and I got scared a lot, but I found him!
First I had to sneak out of the house without Button Nose seeing me. That part was scary. She was asleep on the couch in the living room with a book on her face. I managed to tiptoe past her. She didn’t wake up, even when Claws started meowing.
Next was the even scarier part. Manehattan at night is terrifying. If it wasn’t for the streetlamps, I would have turned and went back home. But Peaceful Skies is worth it. I remembered how he used to talk about this place he visited with his brother once. I thought maybe he was there, so that’s where I headed. I took a map of the city Button Nose keeps in her nightstand with me. I was a lot better at finding my way than I thought I would be.
The place was a diner kind of like the one in Cloudsdale I used to go to. Except this one was much bigger and it smelled funny. Most of the ponies in there looked kinda mean. Peaceful Skies was sitting with this pony I’d never seen before. She had a long pink mane that nearly came down to her hooves. As soon as I saw him I rushed over and gave him a huge hug. I thought he’d be angry because I was out at night, but instead he hugged me back and said he was glad I was there. He ordered me a slice of pie and let me sit next to him.
After I finished my pie, Peaceful Skies said we were going home. I asked if he was still mad at Button Nose. He said no, but I think he might have been kind of lying.
Before we left the diner, I talked a little with the mare he was with. Her name is Avalon. She wants to become a model. I asked her if maybe I was pretty enough to be a model too. She said anypony can be a model if they’re confident enough. Maybe instead of a baker, I can become a model! I hope I see Avalon again. She seems nice and Peaceful Skies seems to really like her.
It’s past midnight. I should go to bed. I hope Button Nose isn’t too mad.
Goodnight, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I was so sleepy that I could barely pay attention in class today! Eventually Ms. Windfall made me go home early so I could get some sleep. I slept all afternoon and almost missed dinner.
Button Nose was really really really mad at me. She yelled at Peaceful Skies, even though I kept telling her it wasn’t his fault. Peaceful Skies just kept saying he was sorry over and over again and saying he’d never do it again. I don’t know what he did to begin with because nopony will explain it to me.
Button Nose let me help with dinner tonight. I made a big mess, but Button Nose said I’m still a good cook. I wanted Peaceful Skies to help as well, but he didn’t come in the kitchen like he usually does.
Claws is staring out the window again. He’s so absorbed in it that he forgot to bat my diary out of my hooves like he usually does. I still wanna know what he sees out there that’s so fascinating.
To make up for missing some school today, I read a lot of “Sunflower Soup for the Soul”. I think I like that book more than the Hairy Trotter book. All the ponies in the book have one thing in common: They all start out their stories really sad, but in the end they’re usually happy. There’s always a lesson in the end about how you have to always keep going. The ponies in the book are so brave and smart. I wish I was that brave. Then I’d be less scared of the dark and I wouldn’t have nightmares. I think I’m gonna send this book to Fly High once I’m done with it. He’ll probably love it!
I’m heading to bed. I slept a lot today, but somehow I’m still tired.
Goodnight, Diary!
Dear Diary,
Three days ago, Ms. Windfall said we wouldn’t be reading “Sunflower Soup for the Soul” anymore. She said maybe it was too advanced for us. A lot of the other fillies and colts were relieved, but I wasn’t. I’d already started writing my book report. Ms. Windfall assigned us a brand new book about three orphans. The orphans are called Viola, Lost Clause, and Sunlight. I like the new book, but I also like “Sunflower Soup for the Soul”. I’ve been reading it so much that I haven’t written in my diary!
Viola, Lost Clause, and Sunlight have to be the most unlucky foals in the whole world! I guess that makes sense. The book is called “A Succession of Lamentable Experiences”. In the first two chapters, the foals lose their parents in a magical accident and have to live with their evil cousin named Pilaf. Things keep getting worse and worse. I almost don’t wanna finish the book because I feel like there isn’t going to be a happy ending.
Avalon took me to a salon. We got our hooves done together and we talked a lot. Avalon told me about how she used to live in Canterlot before she decided to become a model. She’s having trouble with it because she doesn’t have any experience and she’s a little camera-shy. I told her about how I kinda want to be a baker. She said she’d love to taste my cooking!
Button Nose and Peaceful Skies aren’t talking to each other. They’re not exactly mad, but they won’t look at each other and they don’t really like being in the same room. I’m leaving them alone for now.
Rainflower told me something interesting. She said that if I have a mom, I must have another parent as well. I was surprised. I mean, I know I have to have more than one parent. But I’d never thought of it before. Its just been me and mom for as long as I can remember. I’m going to write Mom and ask her if I have another mom or a dad.
Today was a good day. I’m eager to get to sleep so tomorrow can be even better! See you then, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I finished “Sunflower Soup for the Soul”. The book taught me a bunch of new words I can’t wait to use! One of the new words I learned is “irony”. “Irony” is when something happens that isn’t what anypony expected to happen, but it seems like it’s on purpose. A.K. Yearling said in her book that life is filled with “irony”.
Button Nose and Peaceful Skies don’t seem to be getting any better. They barely even make eye contact. Why can’t grown-ups just talk to each other?
On the bright side, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Avalon. Talking to her makes me feel less scared about what’s going to happen to Button Nose and Peaceful Skies. Avalon likes talking to me, too, even though I’m just a filly. I kind of wish Avalon was my big sister or something.
I told Ms. Windfall I finished “Sunflower Soup for the Soul”. She asked me my opinion and I told her about how much I loved it.
The second Hairy Trotter book is coming out in a month! Peaceful Skies says we can camp out at the bookstore so we can be among the first to get it! I can’t wait! I wanna know what’s gonna happen to Hairy. In the last book, he found out that the evil Lord Moldy Goat was after him. I hope Lord Moldy decides to be Hairy’s friend in the end. He sounds like a bad pony, but I’m sure he secretly has a big heart.
I hope Fly High likes the book, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I’m writing this while I camp-out with Avalon and Peaceful Skies for the next Hairy Trotter book.
You know how little ponies like me sometimes have nightmares, Diary? I didn’t know adult ponies had them too. I’ve always thought adults were too strong and brave to be scared of anything. But yesterday night, I couldn’t sleep so I went downstairs to get a glass of water. I found Peaceful Skies lying on the couch. He was thrashing around and yelling like I do when I’m having a really bad dream. I woke him up and asked what was wrong. I thought he was gonna yell at me to go back to bed, but instead he wrapped me in a hug. He said he had a terrible dream that something happened to me and Button Nose that made us disappear. I promised him that nothing like that could happen.
But what if Button Nose disappears anyway? Its been a long time and she still hasn’t forgiven Peaceful Skies! She seems madder and madder every time she looks at him.
I asked Avalon for advice. She told me that sometimes ponies do things that don’t seem to make sense. But everypony thinks differently, so it usually makes sense to them in some way. She said Button Nose loves me, but she might not love Peaceful Skies as much as she loves me.
I wish I could live with Mom again. Life was so simple when I lived with her. Sure she got mad sometimes, but as long as I was on my best behavior everything was fine. I miss Mom. I don’t understand what’s going on with Peaceful Skies and Button Nose. Avalon says I’ll understand it someday, but why can’t I understand it now?
Thanks for listening to me, Diary.
Dear Diary,
Things have gotten worse. Or maybe better? At least Peaceful Skies and Button Nose aren’t arguing anymore. But that’s because Peaceful Skies left! He decided to move in with Avalon. Now it’s just me and Button Nose. She said I can live with Peaceful Skies and Avalon if I want. I kind of want to, but who would make cookies for Button Nose if I left?
I’ve spent the last week reading the new Hairy Trotter book. It’s just as good as the first one! Reading about Hairy and his friends makes me forget about everything bad that’s happening.
Our class is having a cooking contest. Everypony has to come up with their own recipe and present it to the class to be judged. We have one week. I wonder what I should make. Button Nose says I should make something new and exciting. But what’s “exciting”? Cupcakes? A three-layer cake? Fudge? I’ve never made fudge before. Or maybe I should make muffins! I still haven’t mastered them.
I’m going to get to work on the muffins right now, Diary! Maybe they’ll take my mind off Peaceful Skies and Button Nose and everything else.
Time to get baking, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I presented my muffins to the class today. I was so excited that I begged Ms. Windfall to let me go first. I was sure everypony was going to love them. I put my heart and soul into them!
Unfortunately, maybe I should have put more than that in them. Ms. Windfall tasted one and she got a really weird look on her face. She asked me what I put in them. I didn’t want to, but I decided to tell her my super secret recipe. Well, it’s not super secret. I got the recipe from a cookbook. But I added something extra special: Chilli powder! I thought nopony had ever thought of that before! Turns out they hadn’t. But maybe that’s because chilli powder muffins aren’t that good.
Ms. Windfall gave me a C for effort. Which is weird, because effort starts with an E! Rainflower got a B for her sunflower seed cookies. I tasted one and they were way better than my muffins.
Button Nose has been extra nice to me lately. I think she’s guilty about how Peaceful Skies left. She keeps making me my favorite foods. I’m actually getting sick of them!
Speaking of cooking, Button Nose signed me up for a special camp. It’s a three-week excursion thingy for ponies who want to become cooks. I’m not sure about becoming a cook, but I want to go anyway. Me and a bunch of other ponies are going to tour restaurants in Canterlot, plus a bunch of famous chefs are going to talk to us about their craft. I can’t wait! Maybe I can get an autograph!
I see Peaceful Skies and Avalon every day. Plus they take me out to dinner on the weekends. Peaceful Skies seems a lot happier. Actually, Button Nose seems happier too.
I think everything is finally alright, Diary!
Dear Diary,
Peaceful Skies and Avalon are getting married! The wedding is in about two months. I’m so happy for them! Avalon is such a nice pony and she makes Peaceful Skies happy! I thought Button Nose would be mad when she found out. I think she kinda was, but she was also happy. I bet Avalon is going to look beautiful in her wedding dress! Button Nose says I can wear a fancy dress too if I want.
I once saw an old picture of Mom wearing a really pretty dress with lots of bows and flowers. I asked her about it, but she got mad and wouldn’t tell me. I want to wear a dress just like that for the wedding! I also want to invite Mom and Fly High and Sky Writer. Maybe Fleetfoot and Rainflower can come too. And Ms. Windfall! I’m excited to meet Avalon’s family. I bet her mom is just as beautiful as she is!
I’m happy about the wedding and all, but I have to make a really big decision. The decision is so big that I had to talk it over with Rainflower and Claws. Claws didn’t have a lot to say about it, but his silence gave me a lot to think about. Peaceful Skies said that if I want, I can move in with him and Avalon after they’re married. I really want to. I like both of them! But if I leave Button Nose, she’ll be completely alone! Who should I choose? Are Peaceful Skies and Avalon going to be mad at me if I stay with Button Nose?
“Sunflower Soup for the Soul” had a whole chapter about making decisions. But none of the stories were about choices like this!
I’m starting to realize I’m not a little filly anymore. I mean I guess I still am, but I think I’m a lot wiser than I was when I was in Cloudsdale.
I’m so conflicted, Diary!
Dear Diary,
I’ve had a lot to think about for the past two weeks. I’ve re-read all of my previous entries and I think I understand a bit more.
I kept thinking about Mom. Even though she never had any luck, she kept trying to find a good coltfriend. And when things didn’t work out, she got mad at me and everypony else. I don’t think Mom was ever happy even when she had a good coltfriend. She was always sad and angry at everypony.
That got me thinking. If a pony wants to be happy, do they always know what they need to be happy? I don’t think Button Nose really knows what makes her happy. But I do. What makes her happy is Peaceful Skies and me. She cares about us more than anypony else. But if Peaceful Skies and me leave, she won’t be happy anymore. I want her to be happy. She’s spent most of her life taking care of lost ponies that were sad, right? But maybe she’s the one whose lost and sad.
I’m going to stay with Button Nose. Even if I don’t get to see Peaceful Skies and Avalon again, I think it’s worth it.
I think I made the right decision, Diary. Wish me luck though!