//------------------------------//
// The road not travelled 
// Story: Another Life, Another Child 
// by Talon and Thorn 
//------------------------------//

It was killing Ditzy to see her like this. Over a day had passed since the Trixies and Twilights had been brought back from the Everfree Forest and there was no sign of any of them waking up. It was Trixie’s, her Trixie’s, lack of movement which scared her the most. The blue unicorn wasn’t the biggest or most active of ponies but she normally seemed larger than life due to all her boasting and posturing. Now she seemed so small like a shrivelled husk, wires and tubes led from her. It all seemed unnatural and part of Ditzy wanted to pull them from her friend’s body but the Nurses had explained that they were for Trixie’s own good, that they helped her recovery, and despite her own misgivings Ditzy believed them.
 
Since the four unicorns had returned their friends and both versions of Princess Luna had been standing vigil over them making sure that there was at least somepony they knew by their side at all times. When she had arrived this morning Ditzy had seen Rainbow Dash sitting at the other Twilight’s bedside reading something to her. She had meant to ask the blue pegasus about it but when she opened the door Dash had made the book disappear in a trick which would have made Trixie proud, the only sign it had been there was the red glow of the weather managers cheeks.
 
Ditzy had felt sorry for their universes Twilight and this universes Trixie, they didn’t have anyone close to them here so she had persuaded her friends to keep an eye on them as well. She’d noticed the other universes element bearers were doing the same, maybe they weren’t as different as they seemed.
 
Somepony placed a hoof on her shoulder and Ditzy looked up from Trixie to see Carrot Top standing there. “Any change?” she asked.
 
“No, the Nurses fed her more ether potions earlier and she absorbed all of them, that’s a good sign apparently.”
 
“I just talked to the other me, she’s got some ideas for possible treatments but she needs some rare ingredients from the Everfree for them,” said Carrot Top.
 
“What’s she like, this universe’s you?” Ditzy asked, her interest peaked, then she remembered her meeting with this universes Dinky and closed her eyes in pain. Carrot Top didn’t seem to notice.
 
“I don’t know what to say. She’s me if I made different choices, she sold the farm, she lives with the other you, she once dyed her hair green for Luna’s sake! It’s sort of creepy.” The orange mare shuddered.
 
“I know, I think this universe’s Dinky is scared of me. I saw her when we were trying to get to the forest. She looked at me and started to bounce over all smiles, just like my Dinky, but suddenly it was like she saw a ghost she looked absolutely terrified and ran away.” Ditzy’s face screwed up. “I don’t ever want to see that look on Dinky’s, any Dinky’s, face.”
 
Carrot Top nuzzled the distressed Pegasus. “Don’t worry you’ll see your real daughter soon.”
 
“I hope she’s alright. We had to leave in such a hurry when the Princess contacted us I didn’t think we’d be away this long.”
 
“Don’t worry I’m sure she and Sparkler are having a great time and we’ll get home as soon as Trixie’s back on her hooves.” They both looked at their friend’s immobile form, there was no telling how long that might be. “Why don’t you get some air? It’s my turn to take over here anyway.”
 
Ditzy looked up at the clock, Carrot Top was right, four hours seemed to have disappeared without a trace. ”If you’re sure, I don’t mind staying for a bit longer.”
 
“I’ll be fine, you should get something to eat. I’ll tell you if anything happens.”
 
Nodding Ditzy walked out of the room gently shutting the door behind her, through the window she saw Carrot Top start to unpack some flowers that she hadn’t noticed before and arrange them around the room.
 
On her way out Ditzy stopped by the room containing her universes version of Twilight Sparkle. Like Trixie she was unmoving. Ditzy looked at the lavender unicorn wondering what would happen to her when they got home. She was young and had made some bad decisions but Ditzy was the last pony that could blame somepony else for that. Still her stunt with the Ursa Minor could have hurt a lot of ponies, herself and Dinky included, she did need to be punished, but Ditzy hoped Luna would be lenient. She briefly fussed over the bed clothes straightening the sheets and making sure Twilight was tucked in properly, just like she did for Dinky. Regardless of what the purple unicorn had done she was still someone’s daughter and deserved to be treated as one. She gave one more glance at the comatose patient before heading for the hospital’s door.
 





 
The strange new Ponyville Ditzy found herself in was the same as the one she knew, only different. Most of the buildings looked the same and were in the same place, the town hall was still at the centre of town only it looked like it had recently undergone some repairs, some sections looked newer than others to Ditzy, she wondered what had caused the damage. However, there were differences as well, the town seemed larger, stretching out further into the distance. Most buildings were lit with strange un-flickering lights not like the fireflies or gas she was used to. Chimneys seemed to be rare for some reason.
 
As for the population itself, many of the ponies she recognised, some she even considered her friends but all seemed slightly different not necessarily in appearance but in attitude. It was not long after noon but the streets were busy where as in her world they would be deserted as ponies hid from the possible wrath of Corona. There was Big Mac standing at an apple stall in the marketplace, she’d never seen him sell an apple himself, at home there was always someone for him to delegate a role like that to. Elsewhere Fluttershy was walking (more like creeping really) though the streets with only the slightest trace of fear. Her universes Fluttershy could barely bring herself to exit her house let alone visit town. She could easily understand how the butter coloured pegasus could be the Element of Kindness here, she loved all her animals so much, if she could give that same love to ponies as well then she would be a much better bearer than Ditzy.
 
Surveying the streets she caught a glance of the barding of a member of this universes royal guard. A contingent of them seemed to have moved into Ponyville, presumably to deal with whatever had occurred in the Everfree forest and to carry out Princess Luna’s wishes. Cheerilee had told Ditzy that she thought that they were also keeping track of their group. Although it could be a coincidence, they did always seemed to be about when any of them left their hotel so Ditzy was beginning to believe her. She couldn’t blame them or the native Luna who had presumably given them their orders. They didn’t know anything about her or her friends so they could not afford to take any chances.
 
Shaking herself from her thoughts Ditzy took a second to orientate herself. Her wings had automatically brought her home. However it wasn’t her home in this universe. The Ponyville post office looked the same as in her world but she knew that the version of her native to this world didn’t live above it. In fact she didn’t know exactly where her other self lived. She turned and tried to find the hotel she and her friends had been living in since they had arrived here with Princess Luna. Suddenly there was the crash of a slamming door behind her and something struck her in the back knocking her to the ground.
 
“Sorry. My bad,” came an oddly familiar voice.
 
Ditzy picked herself up and made a quick inventory of her limbs, all six seemed to still be attached and whole, before pulling her mane out of her eyes and coming face to face with herself. For a crazy moment she thought someone had placed a mirror in front of her then she realised she was looking at her twin, the Ditzy native to this world. She stared at her doppelganger and slowly realised that her twin wasn’t a perfect duplicate, there were differences although slight. Her twin looked younger; less careworn, the bags under her eyes less noticeable, her eyes and forehead less lined but she also looked a bit plumper. Her doubles hair was longer and messier, although that could have been due to the collision, and surely her own eyes weren’t that out of place? Oddly her twin was wearing a watch. Ditzy didn’t even own a watch, they were a luxury item in her world, maybe they were cheaper and more common in this world?
 
Neither of them moved for several minutes, Ditzy realised that as she was examining her twin in turn must be examining her. The other Ditzy broke the stalemate first, “Sorry, I can be a bit clumsy sometimes, you know? Well I hope you can, if you can’t then are you sure you’re really me?”
 
Ditzy giggled feeling a little lightheaded hearing her voice coming from another pony’s lips, “Oh I understand, believe me I know about clumsy.”
 
“Were you looking for me?”
 
“Err, No I was heading home,” she pointed at the post office.
 
“That’s your home? You’re the Postmaster in your world?” asked the native Ditzy in surprise and awe.
 
“No, that’s Silver Script, I’m sort of his deputy though. They just let me live in the house up there,” Ditzy pointed, then a thought struck her, “Don’t you know about my life, didn’t Trixie do something to your head?”
 
Her duplicate paled for a second, “Yes, she made me think I was you but well it’s sort of slipping away, like a dream. Princess Celestia said that it’d all be gone in a few more days.”
 
“I’m sorry about that, Trixie was confused,” said Ditzy apologizing for her friend, “She has good intentions but she goes over the top sometimes.”
 
“Oh, you should ask our Twilight about that, she got a chunk of the town eaten once, she even made me hoof wrestle the Mayor.”
 
“What?” Ditzy exclaimed.
 
“It wasn’t her finest hour, but hey, it turns out I’m a better fighter than I thought I would be. Would you like something to eat? I’ve just gotten off shift I was going to go home for a sandwich, would you like one?”
 
Ditzy was just about to turn down the kind offer when her stomach took the matter into its own metaphorical arms and grumbled loudly.
 
“Come on, it's not far.” said the native Ditzy leading the way. Her duplicate wanted to refuse but she did feel hungry and she had to admit to being a little curious about how her other self lived. So after a brief pause she followed.
 





 
The other Ditzy’s home was more or less anonymous, nestled as it was among a group of identical houses not too far from the centre of Ponyville. The only thing differentiating it from the rest of the street was the large number of flower pots and window boxes littered around the residence containing a mix of fruit and vegetables. It wasn’t that large and was Ditzy thought that is was probably rather cramped for her other self, Carrot Top and Dinky.
 
Once she was let inside by her duplicate Ditzy found that the inside of the house was somewhat more personalised. She guessed that her other self and this worlds Carrot Top had had some disagreements over how to paint the house. The walls seemed to be a random mix of oranges and the blues and grays she and, she assumed, her duplicate favoured.
 
The two Ditzys entered the surprisingly spacious living room containing about half a dozen worn and patched, but comfortable looking, chairs. The walls were covered in pictures, a mix of photographs and paintings both professional and amateur. A framed painting in the centre of the opposite wall showed a crude impression of what she assumed was her family. She could make out Dinky, herself, her parents, an orange blob, presumably Carrot Top and a brown shape. Ditzy could normally recognise the characters in her daughter’s drawings but she didn’t have a clue who or what the brown shape might be, did this world’s Dinky have a dog? Her’s had certainly requested a pet enough times but there wasn’t a sign of one around the house.
 
The native Ditzy shucked off her post bags casually shoving them into a corner with a hind leg before taking off her cap. Biting her tongue in concentration she threw it towards a hat stand missing it by mile, “I’ll get that right one day,” she grumbled as she wandered over and picked it up with her mouth before carefully putting it in place.  “So what would you like?” she asked as she wandered into the tiny kitchen, “I’ve got apples, cheese, salad, bread and of course muffins,” her muffled voice continued.
 
“A sandwich sounds good, but I’m not keen on muffins.” dead panned Ditzy as she wandered around in the room enjoying the extra space, her own home was smaller than this. She noticed that some of the shelves were above easy reach for a ground based pony, presumably her double got the run of the top of the house.
 
Her duplicate’s head shot around the door and stared at her as if she had sprouted a second head, “Wow, I guess you are from an alternate universe,” she exclaimed in shock.
 
“Don’t worry it’s a joke, of course I like muffins. Oh, do you have any..”
 
“Blueberry?” both Ditzys declared at once.
 
“Guess our universes aren't that different then,” laughed the local version of Ditzy. A few minutes later she returned with two trays of food on her back which teetered precariously as she wobbled into the room. She passed one of them to her twin.  “So...” she said.
 
“Yeah...” said Ditzy also lost for words now that she was alone with her other self. She looked around and saw a colour photo of her parents holding the sleeping form of a very young Dinky. A tired looking Ditzy stood off to one side. “Wow, we don’t have these in my world, well not in colour anyway.”
 
The other Ditzy examined the picture, “Really? Oh I remember this, it’s the earliest picture I’ve got of Dinky she was only a few hours old. Mum and Dad were so happy.” She sighed lost in her recollections for a moment.
 
“My parents weren’t around for Dinky’s birth,” replied Ditzy looking down. “I left home, we were fighting all the time over what to do about Dinky’s father,” discussing Castor even with her other self felt rather awkward for Ditzy, she didn’t like dredging up the memories of that time. ”So it was just me at the birth.”
 
“Really?” the other Ditzy sounded shocked, “Mum and Dad made Castor pay me support for Dinky, I was very glad for that money. I lived with them until Dinky was old enough to go to school, I decided I had to make it on my own some when so I moved to Ponyville. I didn’t realise how expensive a house would be. I’m so lucky Carrot Top was in the same boat, she’s been a lifesaver, helped me with the house, helped me with Dinky. I can’t imagine bringing up Dinky by myself...”
 
Ditzy lowered her ears, even her other self could see the bad decisions she had made.
 
“You must be so strong.” said her other self in awe, “I can’t imagine doing it all by myself and you’re doing great at work, where do you find the time and energy?”
 
“How do you know my Dinky is as good as yours? I might have messed her up.”
 
“Really? The element of kindness is a bad mother? I remember enough of being you to know that Dinky is just perfect in both worlds,” grinned the other Ditzy, “If anything I’ve messed up Dinky, she’s a bit spoiled.”
 
“I’m not perfect, really I’m not,” Ditzy hesitated for a moment, if she couldn’t trust herself with her darkest secrets who could she trust, “Once I abandoned Dinky,” she confided. “She had earache and had been bawling for days,” tears started to flow as the grey pegasus though back to her darkest time, “I hadn’t gotten any sleep and I, I just snapped, I put her in her crib and walked out the door, I didn’t know where I was going, just away. I must have been gone for a few minutes before it hit me what I’d done. I almost knocked down the door to get back to her. I picked her up and hugged her and swore I’d never let her out of my sight again, then she threw up on me. Vomit never smelt sweeter.” she grinned at the recollection despite her tears.
 
Her duplicate put a wing around Ditzy’s shoulders “That happened here as well,” she said softly. “After two days of that even with Mum and Dad to help me we were all ready to give up. A moment of weakness is nothing, you’re only equine. Have you ever made up with Mum and Dad, I can’t imagine them not being part of my life.”
 
“Yes,” said Ditzy cheering up a bit, “We sorted some things out a few years ago, as I told Sparkler life’s just too short to stay angry with them for ever.”
 
“You get on with your universe’s Sparkler?” asked the other Ditzy looking a little nervous.
 
“She still blames me for her parents’ divorce so we’re not best friends but she tolerates me for Dinky’s sake. I think we’re growing a bit closer.”
 
“I don’t get on as well with her, she hasn’t said more than a dozen words to me and few of them were good. Luckily, she doesn’t blame her sister at all, the two of them get on great. Look,” she picked up another photograph from a side table, it showed Dinky and Sparkler with blue cloths around their necks, covered in mud, but smiling happily. “They won last year’s Sisterhoof Social race together. Of course Sparkler didn’t ask me directly if she and Dinky could enter, Dinky had to tell me.”
 
“The Sisterhoof Social? What’s that?”
 
“You don’t have that in your universe? It’s a thing the Apple family organise each year lots of events for sisters including an assault course. Dinky did very well in it, I was so proud of her, I thought she might get an athletics cutiemark. Cheerilee’s told me Dinky might qualify for a national sports meet.”
 
Ditzy looked down at her empty plate, she wasn’t sure where the time or food had gone, “There’s something I’ve got to ask. I saw your Dinky yesterday and... well she ran away from me.” her guts heaved at the recollection, “Is she scared of me for some reason?”
 
The other Ditzy looked awkward, “She told me about that. It’s nothing you’ve done. It’s just that she thought you were me and then she noticed you were different. She got confused and well, yes, a bit scared. She seems to think that you’ve some to replace me, I don’t know where she got the idea from, she can be a little too imaginative sometimes. I’ve tried to explain it to her but how do I tell her that you’re me from somewhere else? I don’t really understand it myself.”
 
Ditzy nodded sympathetically, “I know it’s strange, it’ll probably be better if I try to stay away from your Dinky.” To her surprise saying that hurt like a spear of ice to her heart.
 
“I’m sorry but it might be best.” replied her double looking pained.
 
Ditzy picked up her tray from the table, “I’ll wash these up.” she said.
 
“You really don’t have to.”
 
“No, you made me lunch, it’s only right I clean up. I can’t just do nothing all day, I’ll go crazy.”
 
“Well if you’re sure...” her twin passed her her tray as well.
 
Ditzy carefully balanced the trays and took them into the cramped kitchen. It looked a little different from her own but she recognised most of the features. She began to fill the sink.
 
“Hey, it’s Tuesday right?” shouted the native Ditzy from the living room.
 
“I’m not sure, it was Thursday at home when we left but I don’t know how the day’s match up here.”
 
“I’m fairly sure it’s Tuesday, would you like to go bowling tonight?”
 
“Bowling? I haven't done that for years. I don’t have the time anymore.”
 
“I go every Tuesday evening, Carrot Top foalsits and I get a few games in. I can’t say I’m the best player in Equestria but I hit the right lane, most of the time, it helps to keep me sane.  Would you like to come?”
 
Ditzy considered for a moment as she washed the plates, but she didn’t want to intrude on her other selves life more than she had already, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I should get back to the rest of my friends, they might be worried about me.”
 
Her other self was still in the living room as Ditzy exited the kitchen leaving the plates to dry, “All done, I better be on my way.”
 
“Ok,” replied her twin, “well. I hope your Trixie and Twilight get better soon and you can get back to your Dinky. I’d know I’d hate to be separated from her.” She stood and gave Ditzy a quick hug before showing her out.
 





 
The next day fell into monotony, Ditzy spent the morning watching for any changes in Trixie’s condition. Then the rest of the day just sitting around in the hotel suite the local Princess Luna had provided for the foreign elements of harmony. Most of Ditzy’s friends had gone stir crazy at some point and decided to head out into town. Each time a few guards had gone on patrol at the same time, just in case.
 
Each hour her longing to see her daughter increased.
 
The boredom was broken early the following morning when the native version of Trixie had awoken. Followed by the two Twilights a few hours later. They had given a rather confused account of what had happened in the Everfree. How they had fought and defeated the insane alicorn Antithesis and how they had made the element of magic choose its true hosts.
 
Ditzy and her friends waited patiently for several hours but their Trixie’s condition didn’t change. Cheerilee had made a joke about Trixie always liking to sleep in but nopony had found it very funny, even Cheerilee herself.
 
While the waiting continued Ditzy found her thoughts drawn to her daughter more and more. What would she be doing now? Was she missing her Momma? Ditzy had had no way to tell her daughter how long she would be away. She had just told her it wouldn’t be long and it was almost four days now. Luna had told them that even if Trixie didn’t recover they would all have to leave soon or risk being trapped here forever but Dinky didn’t know that. Did she think her mother wasn’t coming back? Ditzy’s dreams were filled with a sobbing Dinky that she couldn’t quite reach but who looked at her with fear in her eyes when she got close.
 
Finally deciding she had to try and do something about her anxiety Ditzy made her way to the school just before home time. It made her feel like a stalker but she needed to see a Dinky, any version of Dinky. Maybe that would ease her fears about her daughter. She tried to hide herself as best she could behind some bushes across the road from the school and waited. A few parents idly gathered outside the school waiting for their foals to exit but none paid much attention to her. After a few minutes the school bell rang and with a roar a herd of foals stampeded out scattering in all directions. By the time the dust had cleared only a few foals remained including Dinky, not her Dinky, Ditzy had to remind herself.
 
The differences between her universes Dinky and this worlds were subtle. This Dinky’s mane seemed a little longer and was shaped differently, she noticed several other foals with the same style, maybe it was some sort of fashion. She also thought that this Dinky might be a little larger than her own, more muscular, and like her mother she was wearing a watch, but apart from these superficial differences she seemed to be the same as her own child.
 
This universe's version of her daughter was chatting animatedly with a group of other foals who seemed to be hanging on her every word outside the school. Slowly the herd drifted away or were collected by their parents. There were only a few left when a brown earth pony stallion, who seemed slightly familiar to Ditzy, walked up to the group and put a hoof on Dinky’s head tousling her mane. Ditzy’s blood turned to ice, who was this stallion and what was he doing with her daughter? Dinky didn’t seem distressed, she waved to her friends, tried to fix her hair and set off bouncing alongside the stallion talking animatedly, he replied with the occasional nod and grunt.
 
Ditzy was torn, this was not her daughter, and not even her world, but who was this stranger? And where was he taking her not-daughter? Before she could stop herself she started to trot and then gallop after the stallion and her not quite daughter. “Hey,” she yelled as she pulled up alongside them. The stallion turned and did something she had not expected, he kissed her on the cheek, stunned she stopped and blinked not sure what to do.
 
“Afternoon Bubbles,” he said with a broad Manechesterian accent, “I thought you were working this afternoon.” He stared at her for a moment then scowled, “Are you ok?”
 
“That’s not Mummy,” cried Dinky hiding behind the Stallion’s legs, “That’s the Other Mummy.”
 
“Other Mummy?” he looked confused for a moment, “Oh bloody ‘el.” he swore, “Sorry, I thought you were my marefriend.”
 
“Marefriend?” stuttered Ditzy feeling the blood drain from her face.
 
Dinky turned on the brown stallion, “You said some naughty words, you're not supposed to talk like that in front of me,” she challenged apparently forgetting her fear for a moment.
 
The stallion looked awkwardly between the two females, deciding to try and deal with Dinky first, “Perhaps you shouldn’t tell your Mum about that.” he suggested with a rictus grin, “How about I get you something from the Confectionarium?”
 
Dinky seemed to think about this for a moment, “Ok,” she agreed, “Some lemon drops.”
 
Ditzy was a little shocked by her daughter’s twin’s manipulative behaviour but she put the thought aside for the moment, “Marefriend?” she repeated. Dinky seemed to remember she was present and backed away again causing another stabbing pain in her almost mother’s heart.
 
“I guess things are different in your universe then? We’re not together?” asked the earth pony looking a bit downcast.
 
“Yes, I’m sorry but I don’t really know you where I come from.”
 
“Ah, I’m Time Turner..”
 
“Of 28 Bluebell Lane,” blurted out Ditzy, “I guess I do know something about you then, at least where the you in my universe lives.”
 
“Same address in this universe so there’s somethin’ in common. I guess you’re a post mare there as well.”
 
“I think someone told me that your other self is dating Cloud Kicker,” replied Ditzy, saying the first thing that came into her head.
 
“Cloud Kicker, eh? I guess I’m the lucky one out of the two of me,” he replied with a toothy grin.
 
Ditzy felt herself blush a little at the compliment.
 
“Look Ditzy. Ditzy told me... This is going to get confusing isn’t it?”
 
“Well from what Twilight and the other Trixie told me they started using their second names to differentiate between them.”
 
“So I’d call you Doo? That doesn’t sound right, how about I call you Ditzy and my Ditzy Bubbles. That’s sort of my pet name for her,” he blushed, “It was the second part of her I noticed, after her eyes.”
 
Ditzy scowled slightly, everybody noticed her eyes first.
 
“Anyway, Bubbles, told me she met you a couple of days ago. Once you left she thought she’d like to spend some more time with you but well that hotel you’re holed up in’s crawling with guards, it’s not an easy place to deliver an invite to. Anyway, would you like to stay to have dinner with us tonight?”
 
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude on you.”
 
“It’s no trouble at all,” Dinky was still keeping Time Turner between herself and Ditzy, she looked unsure at this but kept her mouth shut. “I insist.” continued Turner.
 
Ditzy warred with herself for a minute, she was interested in seeing her other self’s family but she didn’t want to upset Dinky or cause any problems. Eventually her curiosity won out, “Ok, I’d be honoured to have dinner. When should I arrive?”
 
“Right now would be fine,” to Ditzy’s surprise she realised that she’d been following her other self’s family while they walked and their house was now only a few doors away. Time Turner checked his watch and Ditzy noticed Dinky mirroring the action, “Bubbles should be home in about an hour, so I’ll need to start on the food soon.”
 
He opened the door and gestured for her to enter, Dinky kept an eye on her mother’s duplicate and gingerly entered. “If you’re sure?” asked Ditzy.
 
“Yeah, it’ll be easier that you having to make your way back to the hotel just to turn around and come back again.”
 
With a little trepidation Ditzy once again found herself in the living room of her twin’s house.
 
“Ok, Dinky now go and do your homework, when you’ve finished you can help me with dinner.” said Turner authoritatively.
 
It felt strange to Ditzy to have a stranger telling her daughter to do her work, and she shifted uneasily in her seat.
 
“It’s maths, it’s hard,” whined Dinky, the familiar location seemed to have calmed her fears but she still kept well away from her mother’s duplicate, “Can’t you help me with it?”
 
“I’m sure you can do it if you put your mind to it. Give it a once over and if you’ve got any problems I’ll give you a hoof.”
 
Pouting Dinky left the room dragging her saddle bags behind her.
 
“She’s a smart kid, she just needs to apply herself a bit more.” sighed Time Turner. He turned to his guest, “Would you like a drink, I think we’ve got some wine left over, or carrot juice, or water of course.”
 
“Water would be fine thanks.”
 
“Ok,” within a few minutes the earth stallion had returned with two bowls of water and sat staring at Ditzy, she felt rather uncomfortable and he must have noticed. “Sorry, it’s just that you look so much like Dit.., I mean Bubbles. I think you’re eyes might be a bit more crossed though” Then he realised what he had just said and started, “Sorry, that was rude, Sorry, err..”
 
Ditzy found his awkwardness somewhat endearing and tried to calm him, “Don’t worry I’m used to it to, when I first saw her I thought that Bubbles eyes were worse than mine, maybe it was my imagination. How long have you two been together anyway?”
 
“Almost two years now.”
 
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you meet?”
 
“Oh, she put me in hospital.”
 
“What?” cried Ditzy, “How did I, she, Bubbles do that?”
 
“I’d just set up shop in Ponyville, I’m a watchmaker by the way, and Bubbles was doin’ the rounds, she had a big load of parts to deliver to me and well she smashed straight into me. I probably could have gotten out of the way but all I could see were the most beautiful golden eyes coming straight at me and I was lost.” He gazed into the distance. “Next thing I know I was wakin’ up in hospital with a big bump on me noggin. It might have been the head injury talkin’ but I just knew I had to find the filly that had hit me. Didn’t take long, Bubbles turned up later that day with flowers and a ‘Sorry!’ card, that’s when I noticed she had killer flanks to go with the eyes and the rest, as they say, is history.”
 
Ditzy felt her eyes get a bit misty, that seemed very sweet, “What about Dinky? How did she take you and her mother being together?”
 
“I won’t lie to you, it was a bit awkward to start with. She got very possessive of her mother thought I was going to steal her away. But she’s a good kid I don’t think she’s got it in her to really dislike anyone for long, we get along good now.” He checked his watch again, “It’s getting on, if you’ll excuse me I better start on the dinner.”
 
“Can I help?”
 
“I won’t hear a word of it, just sit there. I’ll be back soon.” He strolled off into the kitchen.
 
Ditzy spent a few minutes examining the pictures on the walls again, some were familiar but others showed places she’d never been or ponies she’s never met. She noticed that Carrot Top didn’t seem to have many pictures despite her living here as well.
 
Ditzy suddenly noticed that Dinky was standing in the doorway looking at her suspiciously. “Where’s Turner?” she asked, her eyes dashing about.
 
“He’s in the kitchen.”
 
“I know what you’re up to.” Dinky told her, “Scootaloo told me.”
 
Ditzy looked confused “What did she tell you?”
 
“That’s you and your friends are pod ponies, you’re going to take my Mummy and put her in a pod and make a copy of her. But I’m on to you, you might look like my Mummy but you’re not. You’re not.” she stamped her hoof on the floor.
 
Ditzy tried to reason with the scared foal, “Dinky, I’m not your Mummy and I’m not going to take her away from you. I have my own Little Muffin at home. Besides if your mother needs to put in a pod to make a copy of her where did I come from?”
 
Dinky seemed to crumble a bit in the light of this logical argument. “But, but, Scootaloo said that Rainbow Dash told her...” she stuttered.
 
“Do you think Scootaloo might have misunderstood what Ms Dash said?”
 
The foal looked down and doodled on the ground with her hoof, “Maybe,” she said, “She does make things up sometimes...” she looked embarrassed, “Um, can you help me with my homework Mumm.. er, Ms Doo?”
 
Ditzy accepted this olive branch. “Of course dear, why don’t you bring your book out here and we can look through it.” Back home she made sure that Cheerilee told her in advance what she would be teaching and normally got a few books from the library to familiarise herself with the things Dinky would be learning so she could help her. Sometimes she thought she did more homework than her daughter did. Hopefully the curriculum was similar here.
 
A short time later the foal returned with her bags, books and pencils encased in her aura and floating along behind her. Ditzy was impressed by the lack of effort the filly seemed to need to do this.
 
Ditzy slipped from her seat and sat down on the floor, her legs tucked under her, a short distance from Dinky to avoid scaring her again. The foal seemed to have calmed down and started to read from her book. It was a bit different to the things that Ditzy had picked up but she soon grasped what the foal was trying to learn, she remembered it from some of Dinky’s earlier lessons. Ditzy tried to explain it to the foal and after a few attempts Dinky grasped the concept and started to rush through the work Cheerilee had provided.
 
“So this is three times six which is six, twelve, eighteen,” chanted Dinky scribbling with her aura encased pencil in her work book, in her excitement she squeezed too hard and the writing implement snapped. “Oh bloody ‘el,” swore Dinky, then looked around nervously, “Don’t tell Mummy, I’m not supposed to say words like that,” she confided.
 
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anypony. For a lemon drop.” giggled Ditzy.
 
“You’re smiling properly!” exclaimed Dinky.
 
“What do you mean?” asked Ditzy in confusion.
 
“When you smiled before you didn’t use your eyes. Mummy does that when she doesn’t want me to know she’s sad. Why are you sad?”
 
For a moment Ditzy thought of lying to the foal and say she was fine but she seemed too perceptive for that “Well one of my friends is sick.” she began, “Also I miss my daughter, I left her at home and I don’t know when I’ll see her again.”
 
“So if you’re like my Mummy then your daughter..” Dinky screwed her face up in thought.
 
“Is like you.” said Ditzy finishing the thought. “Does your mother often not smile with her eyes?”
 
“Not very often, but she was sad for a long time after she messed up the town hall.”
 
“Messed up the town hall?”
 
“It wasn’t her fault,” said Dinky defensively, “She got sick and Auntie Carrot Top made her something to make her feel better but I think she took too much because she felt really better and talked all funny. She went playing with lightning clouds and the town hall got all smushed. But it got fixed, it’s even better than it used to be.”
 
Ditzy was going to ask further questions when the front door swung open. Instantly Dinky was on her hooves and galloping towards it with a cry of “Mummy!” There stood this universe's version of Ditzy. Dinky leapt upon her and gave her a hug.
 
“Good evening Muffin,” said Ditzy returning the hug, “How was your day?”
 
“I did really good in sports today! Miss Cheerilee said that if I keep practicing I could get a place in the foal nationals.”
 
Time Turner stuck his head around the kitchen door, “Evenin’ Luv,” he called, “How was your day?”
 
“I swear somepony’s been mail-ordering anvils, some of the parcels were that heavy.” groaned Bubbles stretching her aching wings.
 
Turner moved up behind his marefriend and ran a hoof over her back, massaging the tired muscles. Ditzy moaned, “You’ve got exactly twenty years to stop doing that.”
 
“Dinner won’t be long. We’ve got a guest by the way,” he whispered in her ear.
 
“Hi,” said Ditzy feeling a little uncomfortable interrupting.
 
“Hi,” said her other self gently pushing her coltfriend away, “Glad you’re here I should have invited er me around to dinner earlier.”
 
“We’ve decided to call you Bubbles and her Ditzy while the two of you are around Bubbles,” announced Time Turner giving his marefriend a peck on the cheek.
 
“Oh, you and your silly nickname,” she blushed.
 
“It’s not my fault I love your bubbles.”
 
“Turner, you said I could help with dinner if I finished my homework,” piped up Dinky pushing her way into the kitchen.
 
“And have you finished your homework?” asked Bubbles.
 
“Yes, Miss Doo helped me, she’s almost as good at maths as Turner is.”
 
“Hey, all I know are gear ratios,” said the watch maker, “You’re the genius in this family Dinky.”
 
“My Dinky covered the same things a few weeks ago,” said Ditzy, “Your Dinky picked it up very quickly.”
 
“Ok, pack up your stuff and you can put the pie in the oven,” said Turner, Bubbles looked at him a little sharply. “If it’s ok with your mother,” he added.
 
“Can I please?” asked Dinky eyes wide.
 
“Ok,” agreed Bubbled, “But use your magic and keep well away.”
 
The foal rushed back into the living room and started to stuff her things into her bags while Bubbles disappeared into the house and reappeared a few minutes later having removed her uniform, bags and cap.
 
With both of the Doo women prepared, Time Turner relinquished his place in the kitchen Bubbles carefully opened the oven door with a mouth oven mit and positioned herself to get her daughter out of danger if anything went wrong. Dinky floated a large pie into the hot oven, it wobbled a bit but made it cleanly in. Bubbles shut and locked the door again with a sigh of relief.
 
“Dinky had a bit of an injury with the oven last week, only a little burn, more surprise than anything,” whispered Turner to Ditzy, “But Bubbles has been a bit on edge about it since.”
 
“Well done,” said Ditzy praising her daughters double.
 
“Dinky’s been taking lessons with the element of magic herself,” said Bubbles with pride, “Twilight says Dinky’s doing very well.”
 
“Ms Sparkle’s lessons are boring,” grumbled Dinky.
 
Bubbles looked embarrassed, “Dinky, don’t say things like that,” she looked up at Ditzy, “Twilight believes in a solid theoretical base before doing practical work.” She sounded like she was quoting someone.
 
“She makes me read whole books full of long words before she’ll show me how to pick up a pencil.” complained Dinky.
 
Bubbles glared at her daughter again.
 
“My Dinky is getting lessons from Trixie, I think she believes more in practical experience.”
 
Dinky looked up at her mother, “Can I learn magic from the Great and Powerful Trixie instead Mummy, Please?”
 
“Err, I don’t think that will be wise Muffin,” said Bubbles looking worried, “Trixie travels a lot, she’ll probably be leaving soon.”
 
Luckily the conversation was cut short by the front door opening again to reveal an orange haired mare.
 
“Evening Auntie Carrot Top,” yelled Dinky rushing off to give her mother’s housemate a hug.
 
“I hope you don’t mind but I invited a guest to dinner tonight,” said Bubbles pointing at Ditzy.
 
Carrot Top boggled for a moment then grasped who Ditzy was, “You must be the Ditzy from the other world. Pleased to meet you, the other, um, me told me about you.”
 
“She mentioned that. How are you two getting along?”
 
“It’s strange meeting the pony I’d be if I’d taken a different path,” replied carrot Top looking a bit downcast. “She didn’t sell the farm, doesn’t live with you and didn’t even dye her hair. It’s kind of spooky.”
 
“Tell me about it.” said both Ditzys at once. They turned to each other and giggled.
 
Carrot Top turned to Ditzy, “I’ve heard that the Twilights and our Trixie have woken up, I’m sure your version of Trixie will be up and about soon. I’ve been helping to make some special ether potions to help.”
 
Being reminded of Trixie’s situation made Ditzy’s ears droop. “Don’t worry Ms Doo,” said Dinky nuzzling her mother’s double, “Auntie Carrot Top makes the best medicine ever, I’m sure your friend will be better in no time. Once I got really sick, Mummy even though she should take me to hospital,” in her peripheral vision Ditzy saw Bubbles shudder slightly, ”And Auntie gave me a special medicine and I was all better by the morning although Mummy let me stay away from school for the rest of the week just to make sure.”
 
“If you young fillies would all like to take your places dinner is almost ready,” announced Time Turner grandly.
 
Bubbles and Carrot Top wheeled a table into the centre of the living room and positioned a number of chairs around them. With the five of them it was a bit of a squeeze. Dinky offered to help set the places but her mother asked that she help Time Turner in the kitchen instead. Ditzy recognised that her other self was trying to protect her crockery, her Dinky had broken several of her plates with her magic while trying to help. As soon as they were done Turner trotted in with a padded saddle on his back upon which sat a large steaming pot of stew, he carefully placed it on the table then headed back to the kitchen returning a moment later with a large loaf of bread.
 
Bubbles carefully ladled out a generous helping of the warm broth to each of those present starting with her guest. Ditzy leaned into the bowl and took a tentative lick, the stew was thick and contained a dozen types of vegetable as well as several herbs and spices. She started to gobble it down with gusto.
 
While they ate each of the housemates chatted about what they had done that day. Bubbles talked about her rounds, Carrot Top about the customers at the apothecaries, Dinky about school and Turner about a clock he was working on. Ditzy felt a little left out until Carrot Top asked her about her world, soon she was telling tales of her adventures, the battle with the Salamanders beneath Canterlot and her meeting with the sea ponies, among others.  
 
Once the stew was finished Bubbles cleared the table and she and Dinky went to the kitchen to collect the now cooked apple pie. Dinky, her eyes narrowed in concentration, slowly levitated the sweet out of the kitchen to the table. Behind her a nervous Bubbles hovered with the oven mitt in her mouth ready to step in if anything went wrong. After a nerve wracking few minutes the pie touched down on the table and Carrot Top took a knife to it to cut it into generous portions which were passed around the table.
 





 
Once dinner was over Carrot Top made her excuses, her amateur dramatics society was meeting today to rehearse their performance of the Pirates of Ponyants so she quickly changed into a flamboyant costume, much to Ditzy’s amusement, and rushed out of the door.
 
The remaining ponies took their seats and sat staring at each other awkwardly for a moment.  Bubbles and Time Turner sat at either end of a sofa with Dinky sandwiched in the middle, the family scene made Ditzy feel a bit excluded. The silence was broken by Dinky, “Can we play a game Mummy?” she asked.
 
Bubbles checked the clock, “We’ve got an hour or so until your bedtime so I don’t see why not. If you don’t mind Ditzy?”
 
“I’d love to. What are we going to play?”
 
“How about Quelf?” asked Dinky.
 
“That again!” exclaimed Time Turner in mock horror. “You know I hate that game.”
 
“That’s just because you always lose,” said Bubbles.
 
“Pleeeaasse,” pleaded Dinky staring at Turner eyes wide.
 
The brown stallion turned away from her, “Ah, not the puppy dog eyes,” he exclaimed, “Ok, just don’t use the eyes!”
 
Dinky wriggled out from between the adults and ran into her room.
 
“What’s Quelf?” asked Ditzy, “I don’t think we have that in my world.”
 
“It’s a very silly game that Ditzy likes,” said Turner, “You move pieces around a board and dependin’ on where you land you have to answer questions or draw a picture, sing a song, things like that. Sometimes you get rules that mean you have to do things like speak backwards or shout ‘Quelf in the land of the farm’ whenever someone rolls a six or take a penalty.”
 
Dinky returned with a battered box on her back which she placed on the table, “I’m going to be the Ninja Monkey,” she exclaimed removing the cardboard shape of a black clad monkey wielding a large banana as a sword.
 
Turner started to set up the board, “I guess I’ll be Lugnut then,” he said removing the figure of a pony with a metallic head.
 
“I’ll be Mrs Pickle,” said Bubbles taking the piece in the form of a pony shaped pickle.
 
“What do you want to be Mumm.. Miss Doo?” asked Dinky.
 
“What’s this one?” asked Ditzy pointing to a mismatched creature with pink arm bands.

“That’s the Platypus, she wants to be a film star.”
 
“Then I’ll be her,” said Ditzy not entirely sure what a film star was.
 
“Ok, you can go first then," said Dinky levitating a dice towards Ditzy.
 
Ditzy rolled her dice and moved her piece the requisite number of squares, it ended up on a yellow section. “That’s a stunt,” said Ditzy, “She flipped over a card. ‘You have one minute to find at least two of following, a hammer, a book, a plant and a spoon and balance them on the back of the other players, if they fall off you both pay a penalty.’” This is different, thought Ditzy as she ran off into the house to find the items.’
 
Ditzy found that she quite enjoyed the game for all its strangeness, over the next hour or so she had to sing the first song that came into her head (something she’d heard Lyra make up), try to drink from the wrong side of a glass (she got very wet), name as many things as she could that you could put on your hoof (her mind went blank) and bark like a dog whenever someone said her name. Dinky laughed so hard at that that she turned red. Ditzy turned out to be worst at answering questions than doing challenges. That was when she found out how different her world was to the one she was visiting, places often had different names and events, even when she had heard of them, had occurred on different dates. After several embarrassing mistakes she noticed that Dinky was trying to help her by coughing when the right answer came up and her mother wasn’t paying attention.
 
Eventually after much hilarity Dinky won, moving her monkey piece to the centre of the board and thinking of the most possible mane colours although Time Turner complained that razzmatazz wasn’t really a colour before being outvoted.
 
“Can we play again?” asked Dinky before giving a little yawn.
 
“Sorry Muffin, it’s time for you to go to bed.” said Bubbles.
 
“But I’m not *yawn* tired,” whined Dinky looking up at her mother with her eyes wide.
 
However, the pegasus appeared to be immune to her adorableness, “No, it’s bed for you, you have school tomorrow. Come on pack up your game, brush your teeth and I’ll tuck you in.”
 
“Ok,” agreed Dinky admitting defeat, “Can Miss Doo put me to bed tonight?” she suddenly suggested.
 
“I suppose so,” said Bubbles looking a little put out.
 
“Only if it’s ok with you,” said Ditzy to her twin, not wanting to butt into her motherly duties.
 
“Why don’t we both do it?” offered Bubbles.
 
Dinky trotted off to the bathroom to prepare for bed.
 





 
The foal’s bedroom was slightly larger but much more cluttered than its twin in Ditzy’s world. What looked like a half-finished arts and crafts project was plonked on the floor near the door and books and toys were piled in one corner. The walls were covered by colourful posters of ponies singing and dancing none of which Ditzy recognised. Dinky trotted into her room and hopped up onto the bed.
 
“Now did you brush your teeth Muffin?” asked Bubbles.
 
“Yes Mummy,” said Dinky smiling widely revealing gleaming teeth.
 
“Good Girl,” the grey pegasus lifted the covers, “Into bed now.”
 
Instead of complying the small unicorn hopped over to Bubbles and gave her a hug, “Goodnight Mummy,” she smiled at Time Turner who gave her mane a rub, “G’night Turner,” finally she turned to Ditzy and gave her a hug as well, “Goodnight Other Mummy.”
 
Ditzy hugged her almost daughter deeply, it felt so right she could almost pretend she was her own child. She breathed in inhaling the foals scent, it was so close to her own child’s but subtly different, she began to tear up.
 
“Don’t cry Other Mummy.” declared Dinky, “I’m sure you’ll see your Dinky soon. She’ll know you wouldn’t leave her because I know my Mummy wouldn’t.”
 
Bubbles put an arm over her doubles back and rubbed gently. Ditzy let go of Dinky and the filly crawled beneath the covers, “Can you read me a story?” she asked as her mother smoothed the sheets around her
 
“The latest chapter from ‘Daring Do and the Griffin’s Goblet’?” asked Bubbles
 
“Yes please.”
 
Bubbles held up the book between herself and her twin, Time Turner peered over the two of them, “I’ll be Daring, Turner can be Goderich the Griffin and you can be the narrator,” she whispered.
 
Ditzy quickly scanned the page and started to read aloud. Between the three of them they managed to put on quite a show as the heroine was pursued by her enemy through the fabled lost sky city of Airlantis. Bubbles gave Daring a brash aspect, similar to Dash, while Turner gave Goderich a harsh sneering voice which drove Dinky to hide her head under the sheets. Ditzy struggled with the unfamiliar text but did her best to set and describe the scenes in detail.  Although entranced by their performance Dinky’s eyes got heavier and heavier as the chapter went on until by the time the adults reached the end she was snoring softly.
 
“Good night Muffin, sleep tight.” whispered Bubbles as she gently kissed her daughter on the head before the three of them left the room turning the light off behind them. A small night light in the shape of a butterfly remained by the sleeping filly.
 





 
“I guess I better be headin’ home,” said Turner once the bedroom door was shut.
 
“You don’t live here?” asked Ditzy in surprise.
 
“It’d be a bit crowded for all of us. I’ve still got the place in Bluebell Lane, for the moment anyway.”
 
“Can’t you stay a bit longer?” asked Bubbles.
 
“Sorry Bubbles, I’ve got a lot of work tomorrow. However, if the two of you could come up with something for us to do tonight,” he stared at the two versions of her marefriend lustfully, “I might be persuaded to reconsider.”
 
The two Ditzy’s looked at each other before replying in tandem “In your dreams.”
 
“Well you can’t blame a Stallion for trying can you?” said Turner without shame.
 
“I can.” replied Bubbles lightly punching him in the shoulder.
 
He clutched his wound theatrically, “Ow, that hurt,” he complained.
 
“Come on, off with you then.”
 
“Night Luv’” he said kissing Bubbles on the cheek, “and you too Ditzy,” he nodded at her, “I hope your friend gets better soon,” with that he left.
 
“You two seem really happy together,” said Ditzy once the door had closed.
 
“I’m very lucky,” she sighed. “He’s fun to be with, he can put up with my clumsiness and he’s really good with Dinky. We’ve talked about moving in together and,” she bit her lip, “maybe something more. But I don’t know what to do about Carrot Top, she’s been such a good friend to me, helped me so much. She couldn’t afford this place alone, not on what she earns at the moment. Anyway,” she shook her head, “that’s my problem not yours. Sit.” she commanded.
 
Ditzy dropped into one of the seats while Bubbles disappeared into the kitchen. She returned shortly with a tray with a half full bottle of wine and two glasses on it.
 
“I shouldn’t,” said Ditzy holding up a hoof.
 
“Come on, one glass isn’t going to kill you,” replied Bubbles pouring two glasses and passing one to her double, who took it.
 
Ditzy look a sip and savoured the fruity taste, “This is good,” she sighed.
 
“Carrot made it, she has all sorts of unexpected talents.”
 
“It’s been awhile since I had a drink, and that didn’t go well,” she shuddered remembering the cursed booze Zecora had created.
 
“Turner, Carrot and I normally have a bottle of a Friday night. You don’t drink, you don’t bowl, what do you do?”
 
“I don’t have enough time for Dinky let alone myself, I haven't been out on a date since before she was born.”
 
“You must think I’m such a bad parent,” Bubbles ears drooped, “You’ve sacrificed so much for your daughter.”
 
“No, No. You’re a great parent. Your Dinky is happy, healthy and she loves you, just like mine loves me.”
 
“You’re so strong to do it all alone, but maybe you don’t have to.” said Bubbles thoughtfully.
 
“What do you mean?”
 
“It takes a village to raise a foal, maybe you should ask for help a bit more. What if something happens to you? You break a wing or something, who’ll look after Dinky then?”
 
“I do worry about that.” said Ditzy flatly. “I’ve got friends, my parents help, even Sparkler sometimes. But they’ve all got their own lives.”
 
“Maybe you should use them a bit more? I couldn’t have raised Dinky without Mum, Dad, Carrot Top and Turner. Is it really best for you to work your hooves to the bone all the time?”
 
“I.. I don’t know, it seems a lot to ask others to do. Dinky’s my responsibility.”
 
“And you having some time to relax is good for her as well, if you’re happy she’ll be happy, she loves you. For Celestia’s sake you haven’t had a date in however many years, you must be ready to explode.” Bubbles giggled.
 
Ditzy grinned, “Believe me after all that time I can hardly remember what stallions are for,” she took another mouthful of wine.
 
“It’s not too late to take up Turner’s offer, he could remind you.”
 
Ditzy spat out her drink just missing Bubble’s face. Her twin only managed to keep a straight face for a few seconds before bursting in laughter and almost falling out of her chair, “Just joking!” she cackled, “The look on your face!” After a few minutes she recovered, “Still, you really should think about it.” Ditzy stared, “Oh, not Turner. Actually having a bit more me time.”
 
“It would be nice to go to the spa sometime,” said Ditzy distantly, “It’s been ages since I got my mane done properly.”
 
“See, just think about it. Anyway I don’t want to spend all night getting you depressed. What’s it like being an element of harmony? Those necklace things look uncomfortable.”
 
The two versions of Ditzy kept talking about their lives for over an hour until Bubble’s eyes started to droop and Ditzy realised that her double would probably be working tomorrow so she made her excuses and left to return to the hotel. Although worried by some of the conversation she had just had she still slept better than she had since she had arrived in this world, visions of Dinky’s smiling face flowing through her sleeping mind.
 





 
With the next day came Trixie’s awakening, she appeared to have recovered without any lasting damage and gave her own version of the events which had resulted in her renewing her connection with the Element of Magic.
 
With her pupil recovered Princess Luna decided that it was time for them to return to their own dimension. After a final discussion with her other self Luna summoned the pony’s native to her own world to the spot just outside of town where they had first arrived.
 
Quite a crowd gathered to see the visitors return to their rightful place and the local guards were required to prevent them being mobbed. The crowd’s attention was only distracted by the return of Princess Celestia whose dramatic arrival and equally dramatic change in hairstyle causing quite a commotion. However among those still watching their departure Ditzy noticed her other self floating above the earthbound part of the crowd with her daughter balanced on her back. They both waved at her and to Ditzy’s surprise Dinky unrolled a banner and hung it over her mother’s side, it read, “Goodbye Other Mummy. Hi to your Dinky. Love Dinky.” A large pink heart sat at the bottom. Thus it was with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face that Ditzy Doo left that world forever.
 
After a horrible instantaneous eternity Ditzy found herself back on solid ground. She glanced around and saw her friends and Princess Luna staggering back to their hooves. The area they were in looked the same as the one they had just left only the crowd of well-wishers was missing.
 
Raindrops broke the silence, “Are we home?”
 
“I hope so,” said Cheerilee, “Or maybe this is a world where the diamond dogs have taken over or something.”
 
Luna seemed to glow for a second rising into the air without a flap of her wings, “This is indeed our world,” she proclaimed. “It appears that Cadence has taken good care of the sun and moon while I have been away.” Ditzy was sure she heard a trace of pride in the way Luna talked about her daughter.
 
That though caused Ditzy’s wings to start to set course for Ponyville. It was only the presence of Princess Luna which caused her pause, “Princess,” she asked, “Can I go..”
 
“Yes, go see your child,” she smiled generously, “I am sure you have missed her.”
 
Without even a thank you Ditzy flew off towards her home as fast as her wings would carry her. Without being told she knew just where her daughter would be. She flung open the post office door and swooped inside knocking over several piles of letters, “Sorry,” she yelled as she dashed up to the stairs to her own living space. She yanked the door open to reveal Dinky and Sparkler sitting in the living room, the former had a crayon in her mouth and was listlessly colouring in a book. “Muffin!” cried Ditzy.
 
Dinky’s mouth opened in astonishment the crayon dropping from it, “Momma!” she squealed, “You’re back!” and then she leapt across the space separating them and was in her mother's grasp. Ditzy hugged her daughter close with both arms and wings, this time the smell of her child was exactly right.
 
“Oh Muffin!” she sobbed, “It’s good to be back.” She tried to pull herself together, “Have you been good for your sister?” she asked.
 
“She’s been a little flutterpony,” said Sparkler standing back a little awkwardly, “But she’s missed you.”
 
“Where did the Princess take you?” asked Dinky still holding her mother tight.
 
Ditzy told her daughter all about her trip to the other world and the events that occurred there. She talked about her other self and the other Dinky and her message to her twin. She talked and talked and talked until Ditzy realised that Dinky had fallen asleep in her arms, Ditzy suspected the foal might not have been sleeping well while she was away. Sparkler had long since left and Ditzy noted that she would have to find some way of thanking the pink mare for looking after Dinky for so long.
 
Thinking back to her time away she considered the words of her double. Should she spend more time on herself? She could hardly bear to be away from her child but she also knew Dinky was a smart foal, she didn’t need her mother to be around her all the time, Ditzy smiled down at the purple filly still clutching her in her sleep, well most of the time anyway.
 
It had been good of Sparkler to look after Dinky while she was away but should she always depend on her to look after her sister? She was a grown mare and had her own life. Her other self had Carrot Top and Time Turner to help as well. She knew she could rely on her friends but all too often they were busy as well.
 
Maybe she should considering dating again. Seeing her other self so happy with her special somepony had touched something in her. She knew she was not a great beauty but some of the stallions and mares around town had shown some interest, she had previously turned down any suitors citing her need to raise Dinky. However, her other self had spent time on a coltfriend and hobbies and her child had turned out almost as well as Dinky. Would a partner be good for both her and her child? It would be nice to have another adult to interact with and two of them could provide more time and care for Ditzy than she could by herself. Maybe next time someone asked her out she wouldn’t turn them down flat. Maybe.
 
Still that would be another day. For the moment she was happy just to be with her daughter in her own world. Ditzy yawned, maybe a nap would be good. Keeping her daughter steady in her arms she stretched herself out and closed her eyes. It was good to be home.