//------------------------------// // Ditzy Doo // Story: The Reservation // by Kyuubi325 //------------------------------// United States State of Lincoln Amazon Fulfillment Center 11:34 AM Ditzy looked over the screen of her computer in the small office looking through the order reports. Her hoof moved the mouse as she slowly worked her way down the spreadsheet the rows started to turn from green to yellow and even red. She blinked and leaned back in the squeaky office chair for a moment, one of her lazy eyes slowly gazing over at the picture of her, Dinky, and Carrot. One of the few pre-contact photos she had of them altogether. Looking back at the screen she started to slide off the chair onto her hooves. Making her way to the door she took a moment to look in the small mirror, straitening her name tag. Looking at the title Shift Manager written just below her name she couldn’t help but swell up with pride before pushing her way out of the room. Making her way down the bright white hallway she eventually arrived at the noisy warehouse floor. Sounds of shoes, hooves, and robots filled her senses, though she had long since grown used to them. As she walked across the floor she would carefully weave past the hurried humans and ponies alike. Occasionally narrowly avoiding the large moving robots that moved across the concrete floors. She eyed the lines carefully checking for any loafing workers or struggling new hires. Seeing that all was well she made her way to the offices above the floor, the stairwell against one of the far wall. A large bay window overlooking the warehouse. Ditzy swallowed and thought back to the reports and spreadsheets she read and headed up to the second level. Pausing at the door she then thought about what she would ask after giving her report. Swallowing her inhibition she knocked on the door waiting a few seconds. “Come in.” A deep voice said from behind the metal door. She pushed her way in seeing her boss behind his desk. Mister Watanabe was a fairly young human, in fact, he was only a few years older than some of the humans on the floor. A bit thin with his white collared button shirt looking almost too big on his frame, his height only making it more noticeable. He adjusted his round-framed glasses to look at the mare. “I’ve completed my reviews of the employees Mister Watanabe.” She said while entering. He motioned for her to sit in the chair in front of his desk. “Please sit down, I want to hear all the details Ditzy.” He said in a slightly friendly tone that still radiated his seriousness. Once she took her seat she waited for him to nod before she began. “Looking over the employee performance sheets, I think I’ve decided on who to fire.” She ignored the bitter taste in her mouth saying that last part. “Good, I know it must not have been easy to come to recommendations Ditzy.” He had a more solum look on his face. “Yes.” She said looking down her right eye wandering lazily. “The new hires showing the least improvement over the last few months were... Peachy, Joshua, Amy, Cherry, and Cheese.” She sighed about the last one, she liked that silly pony, but he struggled to stay focused on orders. “I’ll call them into my office and tell them they have two weeks. “I’ll call them into my office, no need to burn bridges Ditzy.” He had a more sympathetic look. But she shook her head. “Boss I.....at least let me fire Peachy, Cherry, and Cheese, it will look better if a pony fires ponies.” Her lazy eye focused back on him with determination. “If you're sure Ditzy... I guess I’ll let you notify them.” He said knowing that look meant she wasn’t changing her mind. After a few moments of silence, his eyes widened a bit and he started to dig around in his desk. “Oh, I have some good news!” He smiled gently as he pulled out some papers and showed them to the grey pegasus. Her left eye quickly read through the paperwork and look of disbelief formed on her face. “W-what is that mister Watanabe?...” She asked not quite believing what she was seeing. “It’s Carrots transfer request from the yellow zone into the green zone. I signed the employment referral myself.” He smiled passing the papers to the mare as she took them into her hooves. Looking through them convinced it was some sort of trick. “W-why?” She finally asked struggling to maintain her professionalism in front of her boss. “Because.... when you first came here as an associate... I’ll admit I was skeptical.... the war had made even the best of us... uneasy around Equestrians. But since you’ve come to work here you’ve shown me that I shouldn’t judge a race based on the actions of a few... it’s an old lesson humans always struggle to learn... but through your hard work and dedication you’ve shown me we have more in common underneath the physical differences.” He leaned back in his chair. “I read through Carrots file....” “S-she was ju-.” He raises his hand and shook his head. “When Ponyville was scorched by the White Mare there was a lot of confusion. When she saw a US soldier carrying out your unconscious daughter she assumed the worst. The soldier was assaulted but beyond a cracked rib he was fine.” His lips formed into a frown. “But the incident was cataloged and she was sent to the yellow zone as a potential risk. Since then you’ve been trying to get her transferred.... but without employers willing to the take the risk of hiring her....” “....The request is pointless.... y-you don’t know what you’ve done for me....” She said as she struggled to keep her emotions in order. Tears leaking from the corners of her mismatched eyes and lips quivering. “Dinky needs both of you right now, that’s all I need to know.” He said gently. “Why don’t you take your lunch break? It’s around that time anyway and I’m sure you could use the time to recollect yourself.” “T-thank you boss but who will cover for me?” She said a bit worried. “Don’t worry I’ll watch over the floor, I’ve finished most of my paperwork for today anyway.” He slowly stood up from his desk stretching. “Thank you.... boss.” She smiled almost prancing out of the office. ——————————————————— Ditzy was just coming back from her lunch break at Chick-fil-A, licking the yellow sauce from her lips from her imitation chicken sandwich. It wasn’t the ritziest thing on the market but a fitting celebratory meal that wouldn’t break the bank. Checking through security went smoothly as she made her way past the magic sensor and then to her office. Once she arrived back in the small room she pulled out her walkie and made a call. Licking her lips and sighing she made the call the joy from earlier fading a bit as she got ready to do her least favorite part of the job. “Peachy Keen? Please report to my office.” She waited a few moments before the walkie sprang to life. “Coming Miss Doo!” A cheery voice on the other end responded. Which only seemed to sour Ditty’s mood further. A few moments later a soft pink furred mare entered the room, brushing her light peach-colored mane from her eyes. Ditzy just wordlessly motioned for her to sit down in front of her desk. Once she sat down after straitening her yellow vest, Ditzy rested her forehooves on the desk and spoke. “Peachy do you know why I called you into my office?” She asked gently. The mare shook her head smiling. “Nooooo~. But I assume it has something to do with Cheese’s Birthday party coming up in a few weeks!” She said happily while Ditzy’s heart only tinged further. “I’m.... afraid not...” She shook her head the mares optimism and almost childlike (or was it Equestrian like?) mannerisms were so rare now. “Oh? Then why am I here?” She tilted her head in confusion at the grey mare. “It’s about your performance.... you’ve been loafing and chatting during business hours. As well as not meeting the new required retrieval times for items.” She leans forward while the mare shifts a bit uncomfortably. “Y-ya..... it’s just that....... it’s so boring!” She says as if it was an acceptable excuse. “I mean moving shelf to shelf, grabbing and packing boxes? Can’t we liven this place up a little?” She smiled brightly while Ditzy’s brow furrowed, he lazy eye going from wandering around the room to focusing on the mare. “Be it as it may, this is a place of business, not a social club. You have been repeatedly warned about loafing and conversing with other employees on the floor. Never-mind your lackluster item retrieval times.” “What are you saying?....” The bubbly mare started to take things a bit more seriously as her smile formed into a look of worry. “You’ll finish your current two-week schedule, but after that, you will no longer be receiving hours.” She said hoping to avoid saying it out loud “Like a vacation? Oh, I’ve been hoping to take a vacation! But it’s been hard with money being so tight! Maybe I can go camping at the old Canterlot Falls! Oh sorry I mean Gran-“ She was stopped by what came out of Ditzy’s mouth. “No... I’m sorry but your employment here is terminated.” Ditzy said unable to handle the mares excitable chattering. “....W-what?.....” Her eyes widened as the situation finally was realized. “I’m sorry Peachy but your behavior is counterproductive on the floor, already you’ve distracted other normally productive employees with your lack of professionalism.....” She said with the same gentle but serious tone. “B-but.... what will I do?....” Peachy asked as her eyes started to well up with tears. “If you have trouble finding another job you could apply for..... Reservation Welfare....” She said though saying those two words were like bile. “R-reservation Welfare?! B-but that’s a pit and you know it! I-if I go on that nopony will wanna hire me!” She cried as she was nearly sobbing now the situation too much for her. “I’ll do better I promise! Please give me another chance!” “It’s... Nobody now..... and I’m sorry Peachy you’ve been repeatedly reprimanded for your behavior.... if you were going to chance you should have done it sooner......” Ditzy sighs but doesn’t break eye contact. “I-I......” Peachy could barely contain herself as the tears were practically pouring down her face now. “Do you have any questions about your termination or the process?.....” Ditzy asked while Peachy struggled to shake her head. “I’ll sign your slip..... after that it’s up to you what you do.... you may take your break to collect yourself....” Peachy just nodded and almost ran out of the office. ———————————————————- Ditzy waited about a half an hour after that, filling her time with filling other forms that were getting too close to the due date for her liking. Once she had recovered she pulled out the walkie again. “Cherry? Please come to my office?” She waited a few moments before a crimson maned and pale yellow coated mare entered. A slight sour look on her face but said nothing as she says down in front of Ditzy. “Hello, Cherry.... do you know why you're here?” Ditzy asked looking at the mare ignoring her sour look. “I can guess why after seeing Peachy all tore up.” She said a bit of venom in her voice. “Your gonna fire me ain’t ya?” “Yes, but I have to go over the reasons for your termination,” Ditzy said while looking at the bitter mare in front of her. “Ya....ya..... just get on with it, I know your gotta make room for new human hires, all us ponies can’t get the management jobs.” She grumbled. “Cherry it’s not like that at all, the reason I’m firing you is your negative behavior around fellow workers. Never-mind taking roundabout ways to avoid walking near them when you're on the clock.” Ditzy tried not to sound annoyed. “You mean the humans....” She sighed. “Listen I ain’t got a beef with em, they fought back against Whitey and she lost. I just think we should keep to our own...... is that so bad considering?” She looked up her sour mood softening. “Well you and me both know we lost that choice when Whitey committed the biggest multi-national terrorist attack in history! They couldn’t just leave us alone... we have to learn to live with them now.” She sighed. “Celestia destroyed our homes and businesses! Then they moved into our lands and pushed us to onto reservations!” “What was the alternative?..... Celestia scorched everything during her retreats.... poisoned wells..... and when it was all over after the attack during the negotiations... nobody was willing to offer aid....” Ditzy knew this was going to be a sore spot, Cherry once owned one of the largest cherry orchards in Equestria. But with the war over the charred remains were sold off as war reparations. “I know that! But I would have rather starved to death on my own land then watch them come in an erase what littles left of Equestria!” She clutched her hooves biting her lip. “Don’t you miss it? The days before C-Cel....” She couldn't say the name no matter how hard she tried. “You know who went off her rocker?... when everything was so... simple?..” “...Yes..... believe me I do.... you don’t think I miss when I worked a quiet and peaceful job as the Mailmare? Taking Dinky to the little schoolhouse before work every day? Or even the simple quiet moments soaring as high as I want without having to fill out a flight plan? But then I remember other things... our Resumes starting and stopping at our Cutie Marks... Foals being pushed into apprenticeships when they’ve barely learned to count... the ridged tribalism that isolated us for centuries from other counties and in some cases further limited us to small acceptable pools of jobs based on our equine race.” Her lazy eye focused on the mare again. “I have nostalgic feelings for Equestria... but I won’t pretend it was perfect even before we came here... we have to make do with what we have now. Antagonizing our hosts won't help anything.” “...It doesn’t mean I have to like it...” Cherry said grumbling a bit. “But... I guess I could try harder to be a bit more pleasant at my next job...” “Give them a chance... not every human out there hates us... and even if they do... being nasty doesn’t do anything but prove everything they say about us is right...” She said gently taking a more sympathetic look. “Fine... Ah, guess I’ll work on it...” Peachy said mumbling a bit. “...Do you have any other questions? Your termination will happen at the end of your current two-week schedule...” Ditzy asked but the mare shook her head and got up. “Nah... you were clear... thanks for hiring me in the first place...” She said while Ditzy nodded motioning she could leave which she did promptly. ———————————————————- Ditzy didn’t bother looking at the clock simply waiting until she was prepared for the last pony. She had just finished a form requesting a new coffee maker in the break room. A rather simple form, but she made sure everything was in order before sending it off into the strange being that was the internet. She reached for the walkie and steeled her resolve, this was going to be the hardest one she was sure. Pressing down the talk button she spoke into it. “Cheese please come to my office?” She waited for a few moments before a gentle knock was heard. “Miss Doo? May I come in?” She heard his district voice through the door. “Yes, Cheese you can come in.” She said in a gentle monotone. The light gamboge and dark brown maned stallion entered a bit cautiously but quickly sat down. “Do you know why I called you in?” She asked while the stallion nodded his head. “Ya... I’ve been distracted at work lately.” He said lowering his head looking a bit ashamed. “Yes... it’s badly affected your retrieval times. Can you tell me why?” Ditzy’s raises an eyebrow a bit curious. “I was actually going to talk to you about it... I’m hoping to put in my two weeks.” He said while Ditzy’s eyes widened just a bit in surprise. “Oh? Why?” She asked wondering why he would quit his current job, ponies weren’t exactly thriving in the current job market after all. “I got an offer to work at Dave and Buster's...” He smiled sadly. “When I heard about it and saw it for the first time I knew it was a better fit.” “That’s.... wonderful Cheese!” Ditzy said not expecting this conversation to go this way at all. “Ya, apparently it’s like party central with games, food, and live entertainment!” He said cheering up a bit from the positive response. “They want to hire me as an associate but they said with my experience as a party pony I could be an assistant Special Events Coordinator someday soon!” His former excitable personality leaking to the surface. “That’s amazing I’m very happy for you, I’m sure you’ll do well there.” She said smiling a bit. “But we have something important to discuss...” She said hoping this wouldn’t sour the mood too much. “Oh?” He looked a bit worried but maintained most of his happiness. “You’ve been struggling to get your retrieval times up despite warnings. I was going to notify you that we were going to cut your hours at the end of the current two week period.... but since you want to put in your two weeks I think that will suffice.” She smiled gently at him. “What...” Cheese blinked not fully comprehending was he was hearing. “I want you to get that job, theirs no sense in firing you if you're going to quit anyway.” She grinned a bit. “I’m sure it will be a better fit then this place.” “T-thank you?....” Cheese said unsure how to properly respond to her. “Do you have any other questions?” She asked. “I... don’t think so Miss Doo...” He said softly. “Thank you though... This new job means a lot to me... so this... is huge! Is there any way I can repay you!” He smiled again. “Tell you what... when you become the Assistant Special Events Planner how about you help get me a good price for Dinky’s birthday party?” To which the stallion practically quivered in excitement. “Of course! I’d love to plan your fillies birthday party!” He said with glee, the idea of doing what he loved again warming him inside. “Perfect, I think that’s all....” She nodded showing he could leave but her eyes widened a bit. “Wait... when you see Pinkie again...” Ditzy looked unsure saying this but continued. “...can you please encourage her to go back to the counselor?...” She gave an almost pleading look while the stallion squirmed a bit looking uncomfortable. “I dunno... I guess I could try... you know how she’s been since.... the Cakes...” He frowned thinking about his marefriend. “Maud isn’t much help since she doesn’t like pushing Pinkie to relive it either.” “I know Cheese... but she needs help... avoiding it like she’s doing... isn’t good for her either. She’s-” She got up and rested her hoof on his withers before Cheese spoke. “I know she’s unhappy ok? I know she’s sick about what happened to the family that took her in! I have to face it every time I see her and the foal!” He said almost angrily, the volume making her ears tilt backward. “T-the mare I love has become a broken shell. She tries to hide behind that smile but her eyes and strait mane says it all... S-she told me she wished she was the one who... who...” “Cheese... I didn’t know it was this bad...” She rubbed his Withers pulling him into a slight hug. The stallion leaning against her seeking comfort. “...S-she tries so hard to put on a brave face when we’re around... but when she’s alone... she just breaks down... one time when I came back early from work... s-she was laying in bed holding a knife.” He tears up burying his face into her shoulder. “I-I got there just in time... she wrote up a note and everything... She told me she couldn’t live with herself because she couldn’t save Mister and Misses Cake.... o-or..... or.....” He struggled to say the foal's name. “After that me and Maud kept her on close watch.... and... she got a bit better... she’s not her old self... b-but I-it’s better than the alternative!” Ditzy held him close thinking carefully about her next response. “Your scared taking her to the therapist will make her worse again?” It was almost more of a statement but Cheese nodded his head weakly. “I-I.... just can’t handle the idea of losing her again... and... neither can Maud... when I told her... she actually cried. I-I’ve never seen her break that stoney facade... yet there she was... rushing past me and hugging her little sister like her life depended on it, eyes wide and tears flowing like a tap..” He said the memory only upsetting him more. “I know it’s hard Cheese... but ignoring it won’t make it better... maybe you could try scheduling an appointment for yourself and inviting her along?.....” Ditzy offered while Cheese seemed to think about it. “T-that might work... I-I guess I could try.......” He slowly pulled away sniffing. “I-I better get back to work.....” Ditzy shook her head and pulled out some money from her vest pocket. “Take your lunch... it’s around that time anyway. Get yourself something good on me ok?..” She smiled handing the sniffing stallion the money. “T-thank you Ditzy... with everything that’s happened... I’m glad it allowed me to make a friend like you....” He slowly left the room while Ditzy watched on. ——————————————————— Ditzy yawned sleepily as she walked from the bus stop to her home on the reservation. Many other ponies trotted alongside her silently, a few yawning as the day came to its end. Others idly chatted excitedly about finally getting some internet on the reservation. Some grumbled about their jobs. One even told some funny jokes they heard from one of their human co-workers. But right now Ditzy was focused on one thing, her home in the distance. The lights shining through the windows signaling that Dinky was home from school. Once she arrived she dug put her keys from the vest and unlocked the door. The moment she opened it her left foreleg was assaulted by a very familiar unicorn filly. “Mommy! Your home!” She said happily squeezing the mare's leg who could only glow with happiness. “Now Dinky, let me get my vest first!” She giggled leaning down and nuzzling the filly’s gold mane. Dinky pouted in response but let go of her mother. “Fiiiiiiine.” She said while Ditzy’s hanged her vest up on the hook. “Now..... Come here muffin!” The filly squealed running into her mothers opened forelegs snuggling into her barrel happily. Ditzy just closed her eyes enjoying holding her daughter close. With her schedule, she often came home late, but these precious moments made it all worthwhile. “Oh! Mommy’s got some good news sweetie.” She smiled down at the filly who looked up curiously. “What is it?” Dinky tilted her head curiously. “I know how much you miss Auntie Carrot, which is why I’m happy to tell you she’s coming home soon!” Ditzy said while the filly’s eyes widened and sparkled in happiness. “Y-you mean it?!” She was prancing in place the excitement of having her back too much for her little body to contain. “When?!” Ditzy let go of the young filly as she pranced circles around her not wanting to try and stop her daughter. “Mhm, might take a few weeks, but Aunty Carrot will be coming to live with us again.” “A few weeks? Awwwwwe......” Dinky frowned lowering her head before shouting. “I can’t wait that long!” She said the elation coming right back, like a child waiting for Christmas. “Don’t worry sweetie the time will fly by!” She rubbed the impatient fillies head with her hoof. “Now how about we celebrate with some chocolate chip pan muffins?” “Yay! But their called pancakes momma!” Dinky giggled while Ditzy’s rolled her eyes. “And I say they’re called pan muffins!” She trotted to the propane stove and switched on the burner. “Now how about you pull out the mixing bowl and the mix?” She asked smiling while Dinky grabbed a plastic bowl from the nearby cupboard along with a box of chocolate Jiffy muffin mix. While Dinky gathered the ingredients from the small fridge Ditzy took a moment to just enjoy where she was. The prefab house wasn’t much different than the others on the reservation. Two rooms, with an optional third that could be installed (if you could pay for it, or somehow convince the reservation trust to). She had steadily made it into a home paycheck by paycheck. Adding a little paint here, some wallpaper there. She even bought some new Amazon furniture from work, and most importantly a portable stove/oven she installed from the Walmart Supercenter, from the discounted merchandise shelf. Over time it became more comfortable and less depressing. She tended to put most of her paycheck in the bank recently though. Nearly 40k a year went pretty far on the reservation, she could maybe even leave if she wanted too. But Dinky had made friends with other foals here and try as she might, she couldn’t leave the other ponies behind. Her thoughts were broken when Dinky tugged on her tail. “Mom? The batters ready.” Dinky levitated the bowl up to her which she took and proceeded to pour into the pan. “Thanks, sweetie, why don’t you go set the table for me?” She patted her daughter's head. “Ok.” Dinky said yawning a bit, the excitement from earlier wiping her out a bit. But she trotted back to the shelf to grab some plates and set the table. Once Dinky sat down a large chocolate pancake was set on her plate. The warm smell practically making the filly drool. But before she could dig in Ditzy came back and dusted it with powdered sugar and a can of whipped cream. “There you go. Don’t eat it all at once!” She giggled whispering into her ear before going back to make herself one. Eventually, the two of them sat down with a certain filly’s muzzle getting coated in crumbs and chocolate. Dinky eventually broke the silence. “Oh! We did something really fun in school today.” She said while Ditzy listened. “Oh? What did you do?” She asked while cutting into her pancake. “We got to learn about electricity! We made some light bulbs with jars, pencil lead, and neat little cranks!” She said while Ditzy looked a little worried. “Was it safe?” She asked concerned, light bulbs could get fairly hot after all. “Mhm, the teacher told us not to touch the jars while we were cranking it or until 5 minutes after we lit them up.” She said smiling. “Miss Anderson is really strict about that.” “She probably just wanted you to be safe. You don’t wanna burn your hooves do you?” Ditzy’s asked almost jokingly while she ate. “No mom.” She shook her head as she finished her pan muffin. Ditzy looked out the window seeing that the sun was going down and finished her own meal. “Now Dinky did you finish your homework?” “Mhm... it was on the American Revolution....” She said lifting her plate and taking it to the sink to be washed. “Good sweetie, if you keep those grades up we’ll do something extra special.” Ditzy grinned gently as she followed her daughter to the sink and started to wash the dishes. “What could be more special they aunty Carrot coming home?” Dinky asked curiously tilting her head. “Aunty Carrot coming home... and an ice cream cake to celebrate!” She leaned down and kissed her head. “Now off to bed and I’ll be over to read another chapter of Warriors Into the Wild.” “Night mom.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and trotted to bed. Ditzy turned her head to watch the young filly leave to her room before turning back to the task at hand. Just being thankful for the blessings she was gifted with. Especially when so many others weren’t as lucky as she was. She proceeded to mummer a silent thank you to whatever powers would hear it.