//------------------------------// // Mysteries Solved // Story: Ditzy's Eyes // by LoLCyprus //------------------------------// The sun was falling on the warm summer day, and Dinky was walking home from school.  Alone. "Where is she? She hardly ever forgets to pick me up from school.  Sure, she has a bad memory, but she never forgets to meet me after school."  Dinky whispered to herself, letting her thoughts trail off as she walked the familiar path to her home. Dinky looked up for a moment, mostly drawn by the unbearable aroma that surrounded Suger Cube Corner.  The fragrance of freshly baked food taunted her hunger, and she felt her stomach growl in response.  Dinky had waited for her mother for so long that she had forgotten that she hadn't eaten since noon.  With a quick glance she noticed a familiar Pegasus sitting at one of the tables outside the bakery. She approached the distracted Pegasus who seemed lost in thought, and gently tapped her on the shoulder.  Dinky covered her ears in shock as a shriek filled the air and brought Rainbow Dash back down to Equestria.  Dinky fought back tears as she laughed harder than she had ever before, trying to not upset the proud Pegasus.  Seeing the fearless Pegasus scream like that was priceless.  Dinky watched Rainbow Dash sigh in relief as she realized what had happened.  Dinky giggled and smiled happily when she blushed in embarrassment as everypony around stared at her. Dinky saw that Rainbow Dash was just about to explain herself when Pinkie Pie burst through the front door of the bakery.  Dinky smiled at the ecstatic Pony and realized just how hungry she was now that the door sealing the smell of fresh baked goods was open. “Hey Pinkie! Did you just bake cookies?” Dinky asked, licking her lips. “Did I ever! You want some?” She practically yelled, bouncing in place as she usually did. Dinky's eyes sparked into pure joy from her words.  Pinkie Pie giggled and hopped into the building, setting out a plate full of newly baked chocolate chip cookies.  Dinky couldn't believe Pinkie's generosity as she took a bite into the mixture of heaven.  She felt her eyes roll back as the cookie filled her baren stomach. “Dinky, where is your mom?  Did she send you shopping?”  Dinky couldn't help but laugh at Pinkie Pie's worry. "Not quite..."  Dinky started, feeling her heart sink a little from the truth returning to her mind.  "She must have been busy, or had to deliver some extra mail, that's all..."  Dinky tried to convince herself. Rainbow Dash pushed through the door of the bakery, her eyes unsteadily lingering on the filly. "Your mom was...  She's at home."  She answered in barely a whisper, and turned to leave. "But why?  Why didn't she meet me after school?"  Dinky desperately wanted answers that should have been so simple.  Rainbow Dash turned to Dinky to see her eyes wide with curiosity. Dinky dropped the half-eaten cookie and sprinted off home, ignoring the surprised voices of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie behind her.  She honestly did not know what to expect when she pushed through the front door of her home, but she certainly did not even consider her mother and a Wonderbolt in a lasting embrace. What was this?  Why is Soarin...  In our home? Dinky's eyes lit up with a thousand questions at once, none of them seemed to be any more helpful than the last.  She looked at her mother who's eyes were filled with the same confusion as her own. "Let me talk to her."  Ditzy softly whispered to Soarin.  The colt stepped back giving the two the space he thought they needed. "Mum?  Why is Soarin here?  Do you know each other?"  Dinky asked, her eyes not leaving the anxious Pegasus. "Dinky...  Do you remember what I told you about your father?"  Ditzy's voice whispered just as before, the sweetest tone she could possibly manage.  The thought of her lost father brought Dinky to tears.  She had tried to overcome the pain, but she fell prey to her weakness of loss at the very mention of him. "Why...  Why would you say that?  What does...  Dad have to do with any of this?"  Dinky's voice struggled, fighting back her closing throat.  Then she realized just what she had said. Do you remember what I told you about your father?  "Told" not "What happened". "Dinky, your father never died.  I felt like I should protect you from the truth...  I'm sorry Dinky, I...  I didn't think this would ever happen."  Ditzy murmured, glancing back to the colt.  Dinky wiped the fresh tears from her eyes. "What would happen?"  Dinky asked, still confused from her mother's words. "Dinky, I'm sorry too, I never meant to do this.  I just didn't know..."  The blue colt stepped forward, breaking the silence that lingered over him, and with his words Dinky pieced together the last of the puzzle.  Without a word, Dinky turned and bolted out the door, letting her anger fuel her coursing adrenaline. ----- Dinky could not help the tears from falling to the damp grass below her.  The blank tombstone before her felt colder than ever before, and she knew exactly why. How could Soarin be my dad?  Why would he even want to come back?  Her thoughts continued to pursue her confusion, only upsetting her when she could not think of any answers on her own.  I don't want him, and neither should Mum... As if an act of Celestia herself, Dinky heard her mother's soft humming.  Her melody from when she was just a foal, a goodnight song.  The fond memories of her mother flooded over the painful thoughts.  She focused on the one thing that she was sure was not a lie.  Her mother loved her. Ditzy sat beside the filly, noticing her tears begin to slow.  "I'm sure you're wondering who's grave this is then...  Well, I never knew my Father, just as I had said to you, but I would have given up anything just for a chance to know what that feels like.  I'm glad your father came back to give you that chance for that feeling, and I hope you will give him the same chance that I'm willing to give to him."  She watched her daughter as she wiped tears away and shuffled closer to her, leaning against her. Dinky sighed, noticing the nearly engulfed sunset beyond the hill.  "Yeah, I think...  When you put it that way..."  She sniffled, rubbing her cheek against her mother's leg for comfort.  "I think I could give him a chance." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yay! New chapter! I reckon it turned out pretty well! Big thanks to Charcoal Sketch, as usual, and some more thanks to all of you! Because, why not?