"Wow, it’s so nice out here!" Dinky Hooves exclaimed with fillyhood wonder, staring out at the broad expanse of sparkling blue before them, "Look how shiny and bright the sea looks, Mom!"
Derpy giggled at the excited filly's expense as they set their hooves down upon the warm sandy beach beneath them. After a good night's rest and an early morning breakfast, the mother-daughter duo set off for some tropical relaxation and fun in the sun. They caught a lucky break in the wintry storm encircling Ponyville for their travels, making the rather lengthy but clear trip to their eventual seaside destination with relative ease. The beach itself was moderately popular on this particular day, the sandy landscape teeming with a few couples and families sharing similar desires for a seaside getaway from the wintry weather further north. Despite being on the outskirts of the San Palomino Desert, the beach environment still exuded enough tropical vibes typical for similar settings elsewhere in Equestria so as to be enjoyable. From towering palm trees dotting the landscape between the shore and the dunes to the humid but temperate climate, Derpy and Dinky found their surroundings sufficiently adequate for their vacation.
"Mm, indeed it is," Derpy commented with a content sigh, "Quite the opposite of Ponyville, that’s for sure!" she added as she set their saddlebags down, each pack brimming with various seaside supplies.
"Yeah, totally, thanks again, Mom!" Dinky called out, fluttering joyfully around their immediate area while her mother set out a pair of towels for them upon the sand. "I'll bet this feels so much nicer than being stuck in that post office all day, right?" she added with a playful, almost teasing nudge to Derpy's shoulder.
Derpy chuckled, conceding once again to her daughter's unbridled bluntness, and thought back to earlier that morning when she eventually plucked up the courage to call out of work for the day. She had been slightly surprised with how quickly and earnestly her boss and coworkers agreed with her sentiment of taking some vacation time after a rather busy delivery season. Despite her lingering doubts about the situation, Derpy made sure to shower them with plenty of thankful praise towards their kindness and altruism for her and her daughter's sake.
Once their area was set up, Derpy sat herself down on one of the towels and, reaching into the nearest saddlebag, brought out a sizable bottle of suntan lotion. Holding the container with her wing, she squeezed a modest dollop of the cool, soothing cream onto her hoof and motioned for Dinky to join her in application. Dinky groaned slightly at the sight of the bottle, the filly not fond of being forced to sit still while getting lathered, but begrudgingly accepted her fate upon catching a stern stare from her well-intentioned mother. They sat next to each other in relative silence for a while, rubbing the protective ointment across as much of their bodies as they could reach until needing each other to help with finishing.
"You know, Dinky," Derpy started, spreading the soothing cream between her daughter's tiny but powerful wings, "I wanted to thank you for the encouragement to come out here in the first place."
The filly turned her head back to look at her mother, shivering slightly upon feeling the cool lotion touch her back, "Oh, um, thanks I suppose," she thanked warily, " But I thought you said those other ponies you talked to gave you the idea?" she asked, a look of mild confusion donning her face.
"True, but it wasn’t until we discussed it last night that helped me to realize it was okay to go for it," Derpy stated while getting to the last bits of untouched fur along the filly's back.
"Oh, why’s that?" Dinky inquired, tilting her head in curiosity.
Derpy sighed deeply, laying down and stretching out on her belly, leaving her back exposed as she thought back to the night prior. "Well, while we were talking last night," she explained, "I started thinking about all the times I’ve either needed to stay late nights at work, or run errands that kept me out all day, and all the other times when I’ve had to leave you home alone or at a friend’s house." She sighed again, ruminating about the intense bouts of worry and dread she would feel as a mother over leaving her daughter home alone so often. "I realized that those occasions seemed to occur more often than the occasions when the two of us could just hang out together, doing the fun things we enjoy like baking and swimming," she added with a solemn but consoling smile.
"Mm, now that you mention it, I do miss those baking sessions from time to time," Dinky remarked, reminiscing while she returned the favor and coated her mother's back with lotion. "You always make the best homemade muffins!" she added
Derpy giggled, "Thanks honey, I appreciate that," she commented with a genuine smile. "Anyways, I’ve been wanting to make more time for us to spend together for a while, but the opportunity just never seemed to come up," she continued, "With your encouragement to take this trip, though, I think this could be the start of more quality mother-daughter time. What would you say to that?"
Dinky looked up at her mother, her smile broadening as she jumped into the air with glee. "I’d love that, Mom!" she exclaimed and bounded into her mother's outstretched hooves as they playfully embraced each other, "It means a lot to hear that, especially since I know how important your work is to you."
Derpy pulled Dinky closer to her, squeezing her tenderly and lovingly, "Yes, but you’re just as, if not even more, important to me, my sweet Dinky Doo." She then bopped Dinky’s muzzle playfully, eliciting a mirthful squeal from the latter. "And I promise I'll try and do better when it comes to making time for us to spend together," she added confidently, "Sound good to you?"
Dinky beamed, "Okay, Mom!"
"Great, now let’s do what we came her for and enjoy ourselves, shall we?" Derpy asked, standing up and stretching out her hind legs, "Race you down to the water?"
Dinky jumped to her hooves, a mischievous smirk stretching across her face, "Oh, you’re on!" she exclaimed and the pair charged across the gradual slope to the shoreline, screaming and giggling the entire way down. Just as they were about to hit the water's edge, Dinky leapt into the air and unfurled her wings, gliding out across the sparkling sea below her. Derpy followed suit shortly after, spreading her wings wide and floating out to meet up with her daughter. Once together, they both tucked their wings and dove sharply downwards, breaking through the refreshingly cool ocean surface with two mighty splashes.
For the rest of the morning into early afternoon, the two pegasi entertained themselves with some wet and wild fun while enjoying each others' company for the first time in a long while. They dipped and dove in and out of the ocean, sending salty sea spray in all directions as they chased and raced each other through the swells. They swam and swirled along the surface to their heart's content, riding the cresting surf as it constantly trekked its way towards the shoreline. They splashed and stomped through the water in a seemingly relentless game of seeing which pony could get the other more soaked. After some time, both mares eventually emerging from their fun-filled sea-bound venture, thoroughly drenched but still in high spirits.
"That was so much fun!" Dinky exclaimed, hopping around energetically as the two of them shook the excess water from their fur. She squealed excitedly as she spied a small group of other fillies a little ways off, gathering pails and spades seemingly in preparation of building a sand castle, "Ooh, that looks fun! Mom, can we join them?" she asked, looking up to her mother earnestly.
Derpy sighed wearily, feeling somewhat fatigued after their ordeal in the surf, "I think I’m going to lay out in the sun and rest for a bit, dear," she stated with a weary but upbeat smile, "You go on ahead, though, don't let me hold you back."
"Are you sure?" Dinky asked, mild concern creeping into her voice, "I can stay back with you, if you'd prefer?"
"Oh, I'll be okay, sweetie," Derpy said, patting her daughter's head reassuringly, "Mama’s just not as limber and energetic as she used to be. Maybe I'll join you a bit later, okay?"
"Hm, alright, thanks Mom!" Dinky beamed as she raced away to join the group of fillies in their castle-building challenge. Derpy, meanwhile, trotted over to their set-up and plopped right down upon her towel, stretching her aching limbs out and getting onto a more comfortable position. Before dozing off, she peered across the beach towards the lovely blonde-haired filly enjoying herself with her new friends, feeling all the more grateful for having the little bundle of joy in her sometimes hectic but overall fulfilling life. Smiling to herself, Derpy eventually rolled over onto her belly and closed her eyes, her consciousness succumbing to the soothing sounds of the wind and crashing surf as she slipped away into a rather peaceful slumber.