//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 - Back Home // Story: The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds // by Kamahido //------------------------------// Arc and company appear on the sigil in Cherry Hill Ranch’s basement. Ruby steps off and turns back to the group. “That was certainly an… interesting day.” Arc chuckles. “Sorry it kinda took that turn.” “Don’t be, Arc. I had a wonderful time aboard your ship.” Cherry giggles. “And I got to spend time with my sister.” Dinky smiles. “Yeah! That was lots of fun!” Apple Bloom frowns. “Even if Tempest was there.” Sweetie Belle turns to Babs. “I bet she was up to no good, or something.” Babs Seed shudders. “Yeah! She couldn’t have been up to anything but trouble!” “Agreed. Take care of my sister, Arc. And watch out for Tempest.” Cherry sighs. “I’ll keep an eye open too.” Arc nods. “Yeah. You take care over here. And remember I’m just a phone call away.” He kneels down to give Ruby a hug. She nods. “Thank you. For everything.” Arc stands and steps back, waves, and activates the sigil. He and the fillies disappear as Ruby walks upstairs. “You’re the luckiest mare I know, sister.” Meanwhile, Arc and company reappear on the sigil in Derpy’s house. Dinky looks over to the couch to see her mother lying there asleep. She points a hoof silently. Arc whispers to the fillies. “Dinky, why don’t you and your friends head to bed? It looks like your mother had a hard day.” “Okay.” The fillies trot quietly to the bedroom and close the door behind them. Dinky climbs into her father’s bed with Babs as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle share Ember’s bed. “I was kinda hoping we could stay up late tonight.” Apple Bloom shrugs as she looks at Sweetie Belle. “This is later than I usually stay up.” “Me too. But my dad’s right. Mom deserves all the sleep she can get.” Babs nods. “Yeah. Miss Derpy works really hard to keep us all fed at school.” Sweetie Belle looks under the blanket at her cape. “Your dad was right. These patches really bring the whole thing together.” Apple Bloom giggles. “I’ll say.” Babs grins. “Yeah. I get it now.” Dinky raises an eyebrow. “Babs?” “When we were serving the ponies supper in Baltimare it clicked in my head what a gift is.”’ Sweetie Belle gasps. “Really?” “A gift is where somepony gives you something that you haven’t earned without asking for anything in return.” Apple Bloom nods. “Applejack tells me it’s better to give than to receive. Up until now I didn’t really understand what she meant.” Sweetie Belle turns to Dinky. “Rarity’s a really generous mare. I never knew why she did what she did until tonight either.” “It feels good to help others. But I think my dad is the biggest gift-giver around. I mean, he gave my mom the gift of delivering me.” Apple Bloom smiles. “Arc found me when I ran away from home and got lost in the Everfree Forest. He brought me home and didn’t ask for nothing in return for his trouble.” Sweetie Belle looks to Babs. “He’s also talked Rarity through some really hard times in the past. She’s was holed up in her workshop with a bunch of ice cream for the longest time after we got back from our field trip to Canterlot. I don’t know what he said or did, but Rarity was back to normal when I got back from school.” “Well, he gave me the gift of a family. Thanks to him, I was able to find a real home.” They smile and nod together. Dinky closes her eyes and thinks. “Then there’s the orphans. He gave them the gift of deliverance from Tempest’s tyranny.” Babs shudders. “That he did.” Sweetie Belle nods. “There’s probably a lot more that we don’t even know about.” Dinky smiles. “Like his trips abroad? He told me about Abyssinia and how he freed the citizens there.” Apple Bloom sighs. “I wish I had a dad like yours, Dinky.” Babs looks over to Apple Bloom. “We could.” “How?” “If Mr. Arc were to marry Applejack.” Sweetie Belle gasps. “What?!” Apple Bloom’s eyes grow wide. “Marry! But what about Miss Derpy?!” Babs looks surprised. “Wait! They’re married?!” Dinky shakes her head. “No. Just good friends.” Sweetie Belle sighs. “That and Dinky’s mom has a thing for Arc.” Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure Applejack does too.” Babs Seed looks nervous. “Rarity does as well I think. I saw her blush and giggle as she sewed some clothes for him while I was waiting for Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie Belle rolls her eyes. “Yeah, she does that.” Apple Bloom turns to her friend. “Dinky, you’re not jealous or anything, are you?” “No. Why would I be?” “Well, you know… if your dad were to choose somepony else over your mom.” Dinky smiles. “That would be okay with me.” Babs looks to her, surprised. “Really?!” “Yeah! Because I know that whomever my dad choses to marry, he’ll always be there for my mom and I.” Meanwhile, Arc walks over to the couch and quietly puts a blanket over Derpy. She yawns and opens her eyes as Arc smiles at her. “Sorry for waking you. You just looked cold.” Derpy looks at the clock. “Welcome home. Sorry, I had planned to have supper ready for you when you and the others got home.” She looks around. “Where are Dinky and her friends?” “They kinda had a busy day. I sent them to bed already.” “What about supper?” “We ate in Baltimare. But what about you?” A rumble from Derpy’s stomach answers that question. Arc stands up. “How about I heat you up some leftovers from our meal in Canterlot?” “That does sound good right now.” Arc leads Derpy towards the Kitchen. She sits down at the table as he opens the refrigerator. “So how was your day?” “Busy. Very busy.” “Did the guards help?” “Kinda.” Arc looks over as he walks to the stove with a leftover container. “What do you mean?” “Well, they were there. But I wasn’t really prepared to lead half a dozen stallions who didn’t know how to cook.” Arc frowns as he puts the contents into a pan. “I didn’t think about that.” Derpy sighs. “I appreciate the thought. But I’m more tired WITH help than without it. They were anxious to do something, of course. But none of them had any experience.” Arc thinks as he warms the food. “Maybe Saffron could give everyone a crash course in cooking. A few at a time, that is.” “Do you think they would agree to that?” Arc chuckles. “I’m not running a country club over there, you know. They’ll do what I tell them to. That and if everyone’s so anxious to help at the orphanage, they’ll want to learn.” “Thank you for doing this, Arc.” Arc sets a plate of food in front of her. “It’s no problem. The soldiers are probably happy to have something to do other than guard duty and training.” “Training?” “Sandstorm Mirage has everyone practicing combat drills every day.” “Do you expect trouble?” “No. But they are still part of the military. It wouldn’t do to have them getting flabby and lazy.” “I suppose not.” Arc frowns. “And one day that training might just save their lives. Not to mention the citizens of Ponyville.” A short time later the pair return to the couch with some dessert. Derpy looks to Arc. “So you actually have your own airship now?” “Yup. Well, it still belongs to Canterlot. But unlike the Lunar Destiny it’s under my direct command.” “I’m proud of you Arc! You’ve come such a long way since we met!” “So have you.” Derpy giggles. “I think rising from doing odd jobs to our nation’s Hero of Light and Lord Regent is a bit more than me. All I’ve done is go from pregnant single mother to Cafeteria Mare.” “While not as glamourous, your job is very important in its own right. Those fillies over there look to you and Coco Pommel to provide them with a modicum of stability. A precious commodity for an orphan.” “Maybe. But…!” There is a knock at the door. Arc looks over to it, surprised. “Who could that be at this hour? Were you expecting someone?” Derpy shakes her head. “No. Nopony ever comes calling after dark.” Arc stands up. “Well, let’s see who it is.” He walks to the door with Derpy at his heels. Opening it Arc sees a familiar mare standing on the front steps. “Sassy Saddles?” “Is everything alright?” Sassy Saddles looks worried. “I… don’t know.” Arc steps aside. “Won’t you come in?” “No, thank you. Rarity just asked me to stop by on my way home and ask you to bring Sweetie Belle to the shop tomorrow after breakfast.” Derpy appears surprised. “Whatever for?” “Rarity didn’t say. But she’s been especially on edge today.” Arc frowns. “I’ll head over there and check on her.” “Wait! That was another thing she wanted me to tell you.” Derpy gasps. “For Arc to come by?” Sassy Saddles shakes her head. “For him not to, actually. Rarity said she needs some time to think.” Arc nods. “I understand. First thing after breakfast tomorrow I’ll bring her back to Carousel Boutique.” “Thank you. Well, I need to get home. But… what exactly is this about?” “Sorry, but it’s very personal.” “I understand. Well, not really. But I hope you can talk Rarity back into her old self.” “I’ll certainly try. But I guess we’ll see.” Sassy Saddles shakes her head. “Just you will. I don’t work tomorrow. Should I… stop by to look in on her?” “I don’t think that would be a good idea. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this. Or at the very least try to.” She nods and turns to leave as Arc shuts the door. Derpy appears shaken. “Arc? Is something wrong?” “Yes and no. Sorry, but I can’t really say any more about it.” Derpy nods as they return to the couch. “Okay. If you say so, I believe you.” Arc sits down with her. “Thank you, Derpy.” “What for?” “I guess for… your faith in me. It’s not everyone who would just take what I tell them at face value with zero explanation.” “As much as you’ve done for Dinky and I, it seems the least I could do.” They are silent for a time as the dessert is finished. Arc takes the dishes and levitates them over to the sink. “Derpy? Can I ask you something?” “Anything.” “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” “A wish?” “Yes.” “Anything?” Arc nods. “Anything you could imagine. No limits.” “Even if it’s impossible?” “Right.” “So I could wish that my mother never died?” “If you wanted, yes.” “Or that I was raised in a loving home?” Arc nods. “So what would it be?” Derpy closes her eyes and smiles happily. “My only wish… is for Dinky to grow up happy.” “I see. What if you had unlimited wishes? What else would you want?” “Your safety.” “Anything else?” Derpy shakes her head. “No, nothing.” “What about your childhood? You could change it. Alter it to make it perfect.” “It already was.” Arc raises an eyebrow. “I don’t understand. I mean… your past was terrible!” “That’s also true.” “So you’re saying you would leave everything as it was? No changes whatsoever?” “Right.” “I’m really surprised by that, Derpy. Can you elaborate on why?” “Well, I do agree that my upbringing was most certainly horrendous. However, I now look at it this way. The end result was me finding happiness and a home for Dinky and myself.” Arc looks down at the floor. “I’m really glad you’re happy, Derpy. But I’d certainly change a few things about my past.” “Like what?” “My mom’s alcoholism, her premature death, my dad leaving, Lily and Shelly’s childhood, and helping my friend form the Shards. And that’s just off the top of my head.” Derpy puts a hoof on Arc’s knee. “I don’t blame you for wishing things could have been different. But what brought this on?” “A lot of different things, I guess. I suppose everyone has things they wish could have been different.” Derpy nods. “Yes, well… please don’t spend too long thinking about this, Arc. After all, what use is it to consider past events we can’t change?” Arc sighs. “That does make sense. Thanks for the talk, Derpy.” “If you need somepony to talk to, this little gray mare will always be here to listen.” Arc puts an arm around her. “And I’ll always be here for you and Dinky.” Derpy lays her head on his shoulder as she closes her eyes and smiles. “I trust you will, Arc.” Early the next morning Arc and Derpy awaken on her mat in front of the fireplace, Arc sighs. “Good morning, Derpy.” Derpy opens her eyes and sits up. “Arc? Are you alright? You’re usually more upbeat in the morning.” “I’m okay. Just not looking forward to the day’s activities.” Derpy nuzzles his side. “I know you’ll do just fine.” Arc stands up. “Thanks, Derpy. But… this isn’t going to be easy.” They head to the Kitchen and begin to prepare breakfast. Before long the fillies trot out of the Bedroom and hop onto the stools around the table. “Morning dad!” “Good morning Dinky. Did you and your friends sleep well?” “Uh huh!” Apple Bloom smiles. “Yeah! We’re having a great time!” Babs Seed grins. “Yes sir! This is the most fun I’ve ever had!” Sweetie Belle turns to Dinky. “What should we do today?!” Arc sighs and looks over from the stove. “Sweetie Belle?” “Yes?” “I, uh… your sister wanted you and I to stop by her shop this morning after breakfast.” Apple Bloom looks to him, confused. “What for?” Babs Seed sounds nervous. “She isn’t in trouble, right?!” Arc shakes his head. “No. But it’s very important nonetheless.” “What’s it about dad?” “Your friend can tell you later if she wants to.” Sweetie Belle sighs. “Rarity… she’s always so dramatic about everything. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.” Derpy turns to her daughter. “Dinky, can you set the table please?” “Sure mom.” Arc turns back to the stove as he mutters under his breath. “I hope she’s up to this.” Derpy looks over to Arc and puts a hoof on his hand momentarily as she looks him in the eye and gives him a reassuring smile. She lowers her voice. “I’m sure whatever it is, you’ll make it all better.” Arc nods and nervously smiles back. Cherry’s voice reverberates in his head. “Everything will be fine, Arc.” “How can you be so sure about that?” “I’m not. But you see, some blows you really can’t deflect.” “So what should I do then? This is unavoidable.” “If you can’t stop it, you can at least soften the blow.” Arc sighs. “That’s it, huh?” “I’m afraid so, yes. Would you like me to stay here with the others?” “Yes, please. I was planning to wait outside the shop unless Rarity wants me to do something different. I’ll leave Eidolon’s Ward here so you can play games with Dinky and her friends. If you want to, that is.” “That does sound like fun!” “Okay. I guess it’s a plan then.” “You don’t sound too happy about it.” “I’m not. But like you said, all I can do is make it easier.” “How?” “No idea.” They sit down to breakfast. Arc picks at his food as Dinky and her friends eat. “Dad? What’s wrong?” “Nothing sweetheart. You just eat.” Apple Bloom looks over. “Are you sure you’re okay, Arc? I’ve never seen you like this before.” “Sorry. It’s just… stress.” Babs Seed looks to Derpy. “What’s that?” “It’s kinda like being tired, only mentally.” Sweetie Belle frowns. “I know all about that.” Dinky turns to her. “You do?” “Yeah. Rarity gets all weird when she has a big deadline coming up. That’s probably what she wants to talk about.” “Your future?” Sweetie Belle sighs. “Yeah. Rarity’s been talking for years about me becoming her apprentice so I can learn about the fashion industry.” Arc frowns. “You don’t sound very happy about it.” Babs Seed smiles. “Rarity’s job looks like a lot of fun! Don’t you want to learn and work with your sister?” Apple Bloom giggles. “I do it all the time! It’s a lot of fun!” “Well, I’m not really all that thrilled about cloth and stitching. I know I’m okay at it, but… that doesn’t mean I want that to be my life’s work or anything.” “What do you want to do then?” Sweetie Belle shrugs. “I dunno. But… I’d really like it to have something to do with my friends here.” Dinky grins. “That’d be great! We could spend every day together then!” Babs puts a hoof to her chin. “Like the foals at the orphanage?” Apple Bloom sighs. “Well, not really. They stay there because they have to. We’ll be together because we want to.” Derpy smiles at the fillies. “Sounds like you four are planning quite a few adventures.” Arc chuckles. “Nothing wrong with thinking about the future I suppose.” “Do you do that, dad?” “All the time.” Sweetie Belle turns to him. “What kind of things do you try to plan?” “Well… my life after I retire for starters.” Babs looks confused. “Retire?” “It’s where you stop working when you get old.” Dinky looks to Arc, happily. “We can play together all day then!” “Maybe. But you’ll be all grown up and probably have as family of your own by then.” Derpy nods. “Yes dear. You’ll find that the older you get the more responsibilities you find yourself in.” Arc nods. “Right. And the less free time you have.” Apple Bloom looks nervous. “So we might not have time to play together?” Arc think for a moment. “Maybe. Maybe not. But you’ll certainly have a different definition of what is fun by that point.” Dinky looks around the table happily. “Well, no matter what happens, all of you will always be my friends!”