(9_6)
“I’ll be back to see her during lunch,” Derpy told to the receptionist, a look of concern on her face.
“Derpy, you don’t have to worry,” the receptionist chuckled with a smile, trying her best to calm Derpy down. “If ANYTHING happens, we’ll notify you. There is no need to worry, your daughter is safe.”
“Ok,” Derpy sighed as she walked towards the door. But before her hoof could even touch the knob, she spun back around and addressed the mare behind the desk once again. “And you know how to contact my dad too, right?”
“Miss Hooves, if you don’t hurry you’ll be late for your first day of school,” the receptionist said with a innocent grin.
“Oh buck!” Derpy yelled as she turned back to the door. Just before she could open the door, it opened itself as a unicorn mare and her filly trotted in. “Excuse me,” Derpy said as she rushed past the two and headed outside. She couldn’t help but look back at the mare, thinking she had seen her somewhere else before. But before her thoughts got the better of her, she took to the sky and headed for school.
(o^o)
“Why do I have to wake up so early, just to go back to sleep?” Dinky couldn’t help but wonder why she had to wake up so early. She just wanted to sleep with Derpy like she had been all summer. But she couldn’t deny that the cushion she was laying on was very soft and comfy.
“Good morning Dinky!” a small yellow unicorn chimed while standing next to Dinky. The young foal merely yawned as she looked at the filly with her eyes half closed. She was too tired to really talk or play at that moment.
“Lily,” Miss Lemonway softly said, making her way over to where Dinky tried to sleep. “Dinky’s trying to sleep.”
“Why?” Lily asked as she looked up at the mare.
“Because I’m tired.”
“Because she’s still very young and needs her sleep,” Miss Lemonway whispered as she began to direct the young unicorn towards a different area of the room. “You were the same when you first came here.”
“But when will she be awake Miss Lemonway?” Lily asked as she looked back at Dinky. “I wanted to show her something my mom taught me.”
“Give her another hour and it will be time for breakfast, then you can show her what you learned, ok?” the older unicorn asked as she sat the filly at the table with a large picture book in front of her.
“Ok Miss Lemonway,” Lily said as she opened the book and began looking at the pictures. Dinky merely watched as another pony was led in by their parents before falling back asleep.
(9_6)
“Made it,” Derpy wheezed as she landed at the schools front doors. She couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head as she looked at all the other ponies that were standing outside. Making her way inside, she couldn’t help but feel the eyes of several ponies watch her.
“Hay Derpy!” a voice called as the wall eyed mare finally made it inside. Looking over, Derpy couldn’t help but chuckle as she noticed her friend waving from across the hall, her orange mane bouncing up and down.
“Good morning Carrot Top,” Derpy said as she made her way over to give her a warm hug. “Glad to see you didn’t sleep in for once.”
“Hay, can’t look lazy on the first day now can I?” Carrot Top chuckled, messing Derpy’s mane up with one of her hooves. “So how’s Dinky handling daycare?”
“A lot better than I am,” Derpy said as she began to walk down the hall, doing her best to not bump into anypony.
“Hay,” Carrot Top said with a shrug. “Every mother worries about their daughter and you’re no different.”
“Yeah, well,” Derpy sighed as she made her way up a stairwell, just missing a passing stallion. “I’m just worried about her, even though I know she’s safe.”
“It’s ok,” Carrot Top chuckled. “We’re in the same homeroom this time, right?” Carrot Top asked as they walked onto the third floor of the school.
“Just like the year before that,” Derpy replied with a annoyed glare. “Room 302 with Mr. EQ, and can you stop trying to change the subject on me. I’m worried about my muffin and you’re the only pony I can talk to here.”
“I’m just trying to lighten the mood,” Carrot Top huffed as she began to strike a pose that made her look like some uptight snob. But it quickly faltered as she let out a giggle and rushed to catch up with Derpy.
“So this is it,” Derpy chirped as a door with the numbers 302 came into sight. Several different ponies stood just outside of the room talking among themselves. Derpy and Carrot Top merely walked past them, never noticing the second glances they received from the other ponies.
“Lets sit over here,” Carrot Top said as she made her way over towards a empty pair of desks by the windows. Derpy couldn’t help but look outside at the still dark sky, knowing the sun wouldn’t be up for another ten minutes.
“I wonder how Dinky is?” Derpy asked as she looked towards the direction of the daycare.
“Who?” a voice asked as Carrot Top slammed her face into her desk.
“Good morning Minerva,” Derpy greeted as she turned to face a golden furred unicorn. She couldn”t help but look at the unicorns expertly styled silver mane. “How was your summer?”
“It was good,” Minerva responded as she looked at Carrot Top, obviously confused. “Visited Canterlot with my parents and saw some family. But again, who is Dinky?”
“Dinky’s my little muffin,” Derpy chuckled with a smile, once again looking back outside.
“Is she worshiping a muffin again? It took us weeks to fix her last time,” Minerva asked Carrot Top, still not understanding what the pegasus meant.
“No,” the earth pony chuckled, lifting her head off the desk. “Our little muffin worshiper became a mother over the summer.”
“Hay!” Derpy said, ignoring the complete look of shock and confusion on the unicorns face. "I do not worship muffins anymore.”
“Derpy,” Carrot Top said as she began waving a hoof in front of Minerva face. “I think I broke her.”
“I got this,” a random white coated stallion said as he popped out of nowhere. Before anypony could stop him, he moved in close to the unicorn and whispered something in her ear, a devious smile slowly spreading across his face.
“THOSE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT HOME!” Minerva suddenly yelled as she rushed over to a nearby desk. Everypony couldn’t help but chuckle as they watched her start digging through her saddlebag as her face began to glow red.
“So she does have some…” the stallion chuckled, pushing his glasses closer to his sapphire blue eyes. Without another word, he sat down at the closest desk and began staring off into space.
“Good morning to you too Dilvent,” Derpy grumbled as the morning bell rung, signifying the beginning of homeroom. Almost immediately, a flood of ponies walked into the room and began to take their seats.
Derpy couldn’t help but hear several different conversations going on as ponies talked with one another about their summer. Some even talked about a certain celebrity that had been in town. One that was now in jail for unknown reasons to all but Derpy and a few key others.
“Now everypony,” an older looking stallion said as her stood in front of the class. “If you could all take your seats, I need to tell you how today is going to go.” Pulling a small clipboard over, the earth pony began telling everypony that was listening, how the day was going to go.
But whatever he said was blurred out as Derpy continued to stare out the window as her thoughts turned toward Dinky. Praying to Celestia that she would be ok without her until lunch.
Suddenly a loud crack caught Derpy’s attention as she looked towards the front of the room. The teacher stared back at her, a ruler dangling from his mouth.
“I’m sure the class would love to hear what’s more interesting out there then what I have to say Miss Hooves,” the stallion said as he looked down at a set of papers he had near him. “But I’ll let that one slide because it the first day.” Derpy sank more in her seat as she felt everyponies eyes stare at her.
“Now then,” the teacher continued, laying out several papers in front of him. “As I call your name, please say ‘here’ and raise your hoof.”
Again, Derpy’s thoughts wondered back to the small foal she had left at the daycare that morning. Hoping that she had been given breakfast on time and in the right portions.
“Minerva?” the teacher read, Minerva quickly raised her hoof. “Already have all your books I see,” the teacher chuckled as he continued to read off names.
As ,the stallion, Dilvent’s name was read, everypony groaned as he made a barley audible grunt and raised his hoof barely over his head.
“Golden Harvest,” the teacher continued, completely ignoring Dilvent’s reaction.
“It’s Carrot Top Mr. EQ,” she corrected him with a huff.
“Bring that up with the office Miss Harvest,” the teacher replied in an equal tone. “Derpy Hooves,” he continued as he stared at Derpy.
“You mean Ditzy Doo,” a stallion from the back of the room joked before Derpy could respond. Derpy couldn’t help but feel a little hurt as over half the class began to laugh at the name.
"There goes my hopes at a year without that horrid nickname," Derpy quietly said to herself. She really did hate that nickname, always mocking her obvious clumsiness, even though it was because of her eyes.
“Again, take it up with the office,” the teacher said with a shrug, apparently not paying attention. “Shooting Star,” he called as he took a look around the room. Derpy couldn’t help but cringe slightly at hearing that particular pegasus' name, remembering what she had done.
“Is Miss Star here?” Mr. EQ asked the class. When nopony answered he turned to continue reading. “Lili”
“Wait!” a voice yelled as a dark blue blur rushed into the room. “I’m here,” the pegasus gasped as she moved towards an empty desk. “I’m sorry I’m late Mr. EQ, the principle stopped me in the hall and…”
“Like I told Miss Hooves earlier, I’ll let this one slide because it’s the first day,” Mr. EQ responded, not even bothering to look up at the mare. “But next time I want a note as proof.”
“Yes Mr. EQ,” Shooting Star sighed as she turned her gaze to her desk, a slight sadness in her eyes.
Derpy just stared at the pegasus as the teacher finished reading off the names. A slight thought of annoyance making its way through Derpy’s mind as she remembered Shooting Star's trial.
“Miss Star, because you were willing to cooperate with the police and this is a first offence, I will not sentence you to incarceration,” the judge said as he looked down at the scared mare in front of him.
“What!?” Derpy shouted from her seat. “You can’t just let her go!”
“Miss Hooves take your seat this instant before I fine you in contempt of court,” the judge ordered as he looked at the wall eyed pegasus. Derpy merely grumbled in annoyance as she retook her seat beside her father and daughter.
“Miss Star,” the judge began as he looked back at the pegasus in front of him. “I am sentencing you to one hundred and fifty hours of community service, daily check ins throughout your school year, and unless there is a medical or family emergency, you are to attend school daily with a consistant GPA of 2.5 or greater. Am I understood?”
“Yes, yes I do,” the pegasus said with a small smile as she accepted the terms. Derpy just felt her anger boil as she turned to look in a different direction. But as she looked, she couldn't help but notice a pegasus mare and earth pony stallion sitting on the other side of the room.
Derpy knew they were Shooting Star’s parents, easily seeing the traits they shared with their daughter. But something about the way they stared at their daughter caused Derpy to feel a little sorry for the pegasus on trial. Her parents weren’t staring at her with worry or disappointment, or even anger. The way they looked at her, was if they didn’t care at all.
As Derpy remembered this, again she felt a little sad for the pegasus. But her anger at her still outweighed the feeling as she turned her attention back towards the teacher, not wanting to have anything more to do with the pegasus.
(o^o)
“Look Dinky,” Lily said as she held up a folded piece of paper. “This is called a paper airplane.” With that, the young unicorn tossed the folded piece of paper and watched as it flew several inches before it landed.
“It flew just like mommy!” Dinky couldn’t help but think of her mother as Lilly retrieved the paper airplane. She continued to watch as the filly threw the paper plane again and watched as it landed in front of the older unicorn mare.
“Is this what your mom showed you Lily?” Miss Lemonway asked as she levitated the paper plane up to inspect it.
“Uh huh,” Lily said with a nod. “But she told me to never ever never throw it at another pony because it could poke their eye.”
“That is true sweetie, so please wait to throw this again until we’re outside for play time, ok?” Miss Lemonway asked as she gave the plane back to the little filly. “And I bet you really liked how it could fly, didn’t you?” the mare continued as she looked down at Dinky with a smile.
“It was really cool because it flew just like mommy can!” Dinky flailed her arms slightly to express her excitement in seeing the plane fly. “One day, I want to fly with mommy.” With that, Dinky picked up the stuffed pony that sat next to her and held it up as she swung it in the air, imagining a day where she could fly with her mom.
(9_6)
“That lasted forever,” Carrot Top said as the bell rung to signify the end of the period. “First we spend most of the morning in homeroom and then we end up sitting around in the auditorium for a damn senior class meeting.” Carrot Top made it to the auditorium doorway by the time she decided to turn around and address Derpy. “At least it’s finally time for lunch, right Derpy?”
As Carrot Top looked, she wasn’t surprised to already see her friend running through the auditoriums outside exit.
“You could have at least invited me!” Carrot Top yelled as she turned and headed for the school lunchroom.
Derpy paid no attention to her friends final call as she took to the sky and headed for the daycare, hoping to spend as much time as possible with Dinky before heading back to school. She was happy to find out that it only took her seven minutes to fly there, even though she nearly crashed five times.
“You truly are a mare of your word Miss Hoo… I mean, Derpy,” the receptionist said with a smile as Derpy rushed through the door.
“Yeah, well,” Derpy huffed, partially out of breath. “I couldn’t stop thinking about her all morning and…”
“It’s alright,” the receptionist interrupted with a chuckle. “Miss Lemonway’s room should be having their lunch around now as well, so you can go ahead and join them.”
“Thank you ,” Derpy said as she made her way down a nearby hallway. Walking past several doors, Derpy stopped at one specifically labeled as,
“Miss Lemonway, Foals ages 2 months - 2 years”
“Hello?” Derpy softly called as she opened the door with a knock. She couldn’t help but notice the gaze of five foals and a unicorn mare fall on her as she stuck her head in.
“Oh, Miss Hooves,” Miss Lemonway said as she recognized the pegasus that had entered the room. “I almost forgot that you were coming during your lunch today.”
(o^o)
“Mommy!” Dinky quickly rushed over to the wall eyed mare as fast as her small legs would let her.
“Hi muffin,” the older pegasus greeted as she scooped Dinky up in a hug.
“I had so much fun today! After breakfast Miss Lemonway read us a story and then we got to color. Then Lily, the yellow unicorn, showed me something called a paper airplane that can fly like you! Can you show me how to make one?”
“It looks like somepony had a fun morning,” Derpy chuckled as she looked down at the flailing filly. Dinky couldn’t help but point her hooves at all the things she had done that day, hoping to share her excitement with her mother.
“Did you bring me a muffin for lunch?”
(9_6)
“No muffins today muffin,” Derpy said as she recognized the look in the young filly’s eyes. Moving over to the small table, Derpy again noticed all the eyes of the foals staring at her, or her eyes to be more exact.
“Everypony,” Miss Lemonway said drawing all the foals attention. “You know its not polite to star at somepony like that.”
“Sorry Miss Lemonway,” three of the foals said as they turned back to the food in front of them. A small brown pegasus merely huffed as he proceeded to eat part of a carrot he had. Dinky merely looked around at the other foals, a look of confusion on her face.
“Miss Hooves, I have some extra apples if you would like one,” the unicorn said as she levitated an apple in front of herself.
“No thank you,” Derpy said as she placed Dinky back at the table and took a seat in-between her and a small unicorn filly. “I brought myself something from home.”
With that, Derpy pulled out a small paper bag from inside her saddlebags and set it down next to Dinky’s food. Derpy barley had any time to pull out a small daffodil sandwich before the yellow filly next to her asked her a question.
“Are you really Dinky’s mom?” the little filly asked as she looked up at the pegasus next to her.
“Yep,” Derpy simply replied as she nuzzled the top of Dinky’s head. “She’s my little muffin.”
“But you’re a pegasus pony?” the young pegasus colt asked with a look of confusion and annoyance. “How is that even possible?”
“Now High Lane,” Miss Lemonway said, drawing everyponies attention once again. “That’s not something a colt your age needs to worry about. Now finish your lunch so we can start naptime.”
“Yes Miss Lemonway,” the young colt huffed as he finished his carrot and started drinking from his juice box.
(o^o)
“Is it bad that mommy is a pegasus?” Dinky continued to think about this as she ate her mashed peas. She couldn’t understand why her mom being a pegasus and her being a unicorn confused all the other foals. “It doesn't matter, mommy is mommy and I love her.”
“I have to go now Dinky,” Derpy said drawing the foals attention. “You be a good filly and listen to Miss Lemonway and I’ll be back in a few hours to pick you up.”
“Bye mommy.” Dinky gave Derpy one final hug before the pegasus left to return to where ever it was she was going.
“Ok everypony,” Miss Lemonway said as she grabbed the foals attention. It’s time to get ready for your naps.”
“Yes Miss Lemonway,” every foal except for Dinky responded. Dinky watched as the older unicorn levitated several large cushions out of a closet and set them in a circle in an open area of the room. One by one the other foals rushed over to the cushions, each jumping into the first one they could reach.
“Come on Dinky,” Lily said as she began to lead the youngest foal to a empty pair of cushions.
“Has everypony found a place?” the mare asked as she produced several small blankets, giving one to each foal.
Once Dinky received her blanket, she hopped onto her cushion and snuggled close to her stuffed pony as Miss Lemonway started to tuck the other foals in.
“Dinky!” Lily whispered from her spot nearby. Already feeling herself drift into sleep, Dinky barely moved her head to look at the unicorn. “Your mom seems really nice.”
“My mommy’s the kindest pony there is.” Giving a final yawn, Dinky drifted into her small nap.
(9_6)
“So how was school?” Derpy’s father asked as she walked into the house, a bouncing filly on her back.
“Not as good as hers probably was,” Derpy chuckled in reply as she looked back at the unicorn on her back. “She made you something in daycare.”
“Really?” Derpy’s father asked as he walked into the hallway, his uniform half buttoned. Pulling out a small piece of paper from her saddlebags, Derpy handed it to her father. It was like the one Dinky had made for Derpy the week before, only fewer colors were used.
“Its beautiful Dinky,” Derpy’s father chuckled as he picked the filly off of Derpy’s back and wrapped her in a hug. “How did you know she made it for me?”
“Because I asked her,” Derpy replied with a wave of her hoof. “When I asked her if it was for me she shook her head no and when I asked if it were for you, she nodded her head yes.”
“Such a smart little filly,” Derpy’s father said, hugging Dinky again. “Well,” he said as he handed the filly back to Derpy. “I’m going up to take a nap, don’t stay up too late. You have school tomorrow.”
“Yes dad,” Derpy said as she half hugged her father goodnight. With that, Derpy’s father unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and left the room.
“Well,” Derpy said as she looked down at the filly in her arm. “Lets get you washed up and then a nice healthy snack. And by healthy snack, I mean muffins.” Derpy chuckled as Dinky began hopping with excitement once again.