Star looked down at me. I was smiling really broadly. She waved a hoof in font of my face. I then started bouncing around her in a circle.
"We're almost done. We're almost done. Daddy is coming back, daddy is…"
I was caught in midair in Star's magic. "Now hold up. This whole plan of yours confuses the heck out of me but I could swear…"
"This is still the middle but we already went through most of the rest. I think it's going to work. I think I'm going to finally get back daddy, and not the Doctor. That he'll be the stallion that knows me and…"
"What?"
I face hooved. I face hooved so hard it actually hurt. I think I might have even chipped my horn a little. We did worse this time. There should have been at least one more trip before we screwed up but I let my guard down and we did worse. I was beginning to cry but momma scooped me out of Star's magical grip and hugged me tightly, never setting down on the floor. Star sighed.
"Okay, clearly you're not just going to forget this, so bam, big secret out of the way, yes Dinky is your daughter." Said Star
"Her name isn't really Dinky." Said Momma
"I tired so hard. I did it. I was so good but I was excited. I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry momma. I'm so sorry I failed."
"You tried your best my little muffin. There is nothing left but to go forward now. Besides we may not be exactly who you think we are."
"Huh?"
I was about to ask her to explain, but then momma set me down in front of the Doctor. He had wings. He didn't have wings until near when I was conceived. I wasn't sure exactly when he regenerated and I forgot how close, but it was close. I wonder how many other ponies have been in the next room when their parents made them. I don't think it can be that many. I smiled.
"Oh." I said
"Now wait a second, I still don't understand."
I took a slight bow. "My full name is Rosealine Clockwork Doo, but everypony calls me Dinky. I am your daughter."
"But how, we've never…"
Momma and I sighed at the same time. "Not yet." I added. "That was the whole point."
"What?"
"This plan." Said Star "The whole don't tell him anything nonsense."
"I, didn't want you to feel trapped." One of momma's eyes looked away "I wanted you to still be here for Dinky, but not feel obligated like you will be. So in the future you and me come up with this plan and Dinky works on implementing it."
"Why her?"
"Older me. She's very talented." Then I blinked. "Momma, is that bragging?"
"I'm not sure my little muffin, but it's okay even if it is."
The Doctor then turned to Star. "Does that mean…"
Star rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Dinky is amazing somehow but clearly that's mostly mom." Then she laughed. "Though I suppose my father is the one stallion I know worse than you."
"It's the Master." I said
The Doctor went wide eyed. "That's why you hate me? Because…"
"No." She glared at him. "I hate both of you for the same reason. You make mom cry. It matters that you're just too dim to realize it instead of simply not caring, but the result is the same."
"Star Sapphire Doo. You will not talk to him that way."
"Oh please, it's true and I wasn't even rude. You've heard me be rude. I know you think he's worth it but I don't care. I'm leaving. See you later mom, little sis."
Then she stormed out. Star explained what she meant and I understood, but she tires to live her life in a strait line as much as possible, so she's almost never been in the Tardis. She's almost never seen what momma is like around dad. She's never seen how much mom loves the Doctor. How much she always has. Mom's never said but I think it was the Doctor's fault she is stuck like she is, and something he did made her fall in love with him right then and there. Yes it's sad all the time she hasn't been able to spend with him, but throughout her long life she's treasured every second she has.
"I still don't understand. What is the point? Your future self…"
"We were trying to redirect destiny. Change what seems unchangeable. You learn before you love her enough to have me. Momma wanted you to not feel any pressure."
"But if you succeeded you might cease to exist."
"No. Technically you're not exactly my father, but as I already said, you're close enough it doesn't matter. The differences between universes are so minute that we could never find that particular reality, as it's nearly the same."
"I love you." Momma said "I want you to love me but you don't, not yet. I wanted there to not be an issue with…"
"I understand. I don't think you really understand who I am and what it means to…"
Momma was suddenly right in front of dad, looking strait into his eyes, both eyes staring strait ahead. He took a step back. Serious momma could be a little unnerving if you weren't used to it.
"You don't understand me, but I understand you. No one else understands you like I do Doctor. I have lived thousands upon thousands of years and keep meeting you over and over again. Often seeking you out, looking for big events in the hope we will meet, but also by accident. And so very often meeting myself."
"She also knows auntie really well, and she's just like you in a lot of ways."
"Auntie, you mean the Professor?" he blinked, looking away from momma. "I guess that makes enough sense doesn't it even if technically we aren't related by definition."
"I know you Doctor. We did what we did because I know you. Because now that you do know I know you will never leave, and…" Then momma looked away. "I still wonder. I always wonder and wanted not to."
"I…"
Then he just left. The time lords had power beyond comprehension and so much knowledge. The Doctor in any universe was the greatest among them. Yet he's always had so much trouble with expressing certain emotions. Especially allowing himself to care too deeply for anyone. We both knew this, but both began to cry when he left.