//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Stopping Distances 
// by Mica 
//------------------------------//

“Just a bit closer now, my Sheriff…” Zipp whispers in a low sultry voi—

Suddenly, the door swings open. “HI HITCH! Oooh, free cookie!” The familiar intruder picks up the cookie on the floor, coated in eraser dust, and pops it straight into her mouth.

“IZZY WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Zipp yells. She managed to catch a whiff of Hitch’s scent, but not close enough for her to taste his sensuous li—

“It’s 8 o’clock, so I’m here to drop Sparky off back home! Here!” Sparky jumps off of Izzy’s back and waddles towards Hitch. “Hey, dragonsitting was super fun! We did arts and crafts, we played Dare the Mare—here Hitch, see what he made with his dragon fire today! He made you this new walkie talkie with your cutie mark on it…and this power washer for your patio!”

“Aww…how nice of you, my precious little Sparkeroni!” Hitch walks up to cuddle his dragon son.

Meanwhile Izzy mutters quietly from one side of her mouth, “Oh, also, on a tooootally unrelated note, Pipp’s phone has mysteriously gone missing from the Brighthouse. And Sunny’s ear cleaner too.”

Zipp is still staring at the obliviously giggling unicorn. Growling, like a tiger.

“Oh hey Zipp, didn’t notice ya there!” Izzy waves. “I thought the sheriff’s office was closed. Have you been here all day, Zipp?”

Zipp suddenly breaks out in a cold nervous sweat. “Erm…yes?”

“What for? And why are you an’ Hitch standing so close to each other, you’re almost touching hoov…” A pause—then a tiny spark literally pops from the tip of Izzy’s horn. “Ooh, I get it…! You two, erm…well…” she cautiously steps away, unable to wipe the smug grin off her face. “Never mind silly ol’ me, I’ll be going on my merry way, I’ll take Sparky too (I’m charging time and a half for extra dragonsitting, Hitch. And you’re paying to replace Pipp’s phone.)! Have fun! Wait till I tell Sunny about this! Zippy and Hitchy, sittin’ in a tree! K-I-S—” 

“No no no! D-don’t get the wrong idea, Izzy! Well…I…I’m here because…it was…well…remedial driving lessons! Of course! And, erm…Hitch was teaching me. Isn’t that right, Hitch, erm…Sheriff…?”

Even Hitch jumps in to cover for Zipp. “Y-y-yeah! It’s erm…Sheriff’s orders, ehehe! Nothing fun at all! Driving lessons required per bylaw erm…erm…420, Subpart 69D…?”

“Oh I seeee,” Izzy says. “Then when can I start my lessons?”

Hitch furrows his brow. “Why? Do you need remedial driving lessons, Izzy?”

“Well…” the unicorn chuckles nervously. “I think I might’ve chased Posey down Bayshore Drive on the Izzymobile and made her pull all the muscles in her rear legs. The lawsuit is pending.”

Silence.

“WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON IN THIS TOWWWWN!!!!!” 

Sparky walks up to comfort the sobbing sheriff as the two mares giggle.