July 10, 5:12 PM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***
I got home a bit earlier than usual; partially because Karat let me go early and partially because I was so excited to tell my family the good news. But even though I was early, I could already smell a sweet, all-too-familiar aroma in the air. I smiled and licked my lips despite myself. That particular aroma could only mean one thing: Carrot Top was cooking dinner tonight.
In case you don't know, Carrot Top (or Golden Harvest, whichever you prefer) is our landlady. She owns a carrot patch in Ponyville, which is why it's always easy to tell when she's cooking dinner. Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would your landlady make dinner for you?" Well, I use the term "landlady" a bit loosely here. I mean, she collects the rent from us and does pretty much everything else a landlady does. But as far as my mom is concerned, she's practically one of the family. Not many ponies say that about their landlords or landladies, but my mom's a special case (I'll get to that in a minute). Besides, Carrot Top is one of her closest friends, so it makes sense.
I looked under the mat quickly and saw that the key was still there. I actually thought it was a bit strange. My mom usually gets home long before I do, and I wasn't that early. Figuring she was just running late, I picked up the key with my magic and opened the door.
"Carrot Top! Dinky! I'm home!" I called out.
As soon as I walked in the door, I was immediately greeted by my little sister, Dinky Doo. She nuzzled her cheek against my chest and gave me an adorable smile.
"Welcome home, Amethyst," she chirped. "How was your day?"
"Not bad, not bad," I said coyly, not ready to reveal the surprise yet. "How about you, Dink?"
"It was pretty fun," said Dinky, beaming at me. "I've almost finished reading Bellerophon and the Chimera, and I helped Ms. Harvest pick some carrots for dinner."
I had to smile back. Most kids Dinky's age wouldn't consider reading and helping out in the garden "fun," especially not on a nice summer day when they can be hanging out at the swimming hole or the arcade. But, Dinky's not really like other kids. She still has that playful innocence and active imagination that most kids do, but she's also very polite and eager to please. How many kids can you say are like that? I can't think of many off the top of my head, and I do quite a bit of foal-sitting.
Not only that, but she's pretty smart as well. Okay, she's not exactly a child prodigy or anything, but every once in a while, she'll say something that'll blow your mind. She'll say it in a cutesy childlike way, but if you pay close attention, you'll soon realize that she knows exactly what she's talking about. She certainly knows more about the world around her than I did when I was her age. And yet she doesn't know what her special talent is yet. Go figure.
"That sounds very nice," I said. "I'm sure you were a big help."
"She certainly was," said Carrot Top, coming in from the kitchen. She was wearing her "Carrots are Good for Your Eyes" apron (it's just as silly as it sounds, but don't tell her I said that) and holding a wooden spoon covered in carrot glop.
"It's gonna taste extra good because I helped make it," said Dinky happily. "Food always tastes better when you work for it."
I suppressed the urge to giggle. That right there is just one part of the Zen of Dinky (as I've come to call it). Sweet and innocent, yet very true to life. For the most part, anyway; I happen to be a terrible cook.
"Well, I can't wait to taste it myself," I said. "By the way, Carrot Top. Did Mom say anything about being home late?"
Carrot Top shook her head. "No, she didn't tell me anything. It must be a last-minute delivery or something. Anyway, dinner shouldn't be ready for another couple of hours; I'm sure she'll be home by then."
"Good, 'cause I've got some great news, and I want her to be home to hear it," I said.
"Really now," said Carrot Top, looking at me with interest. "I thought you looked rather chipper."
"Can you tell us now, Amethyst? Please?" asked Dinky, her eyes glistening. "I promise I'll act surprised when you tell Mama."
I chuckled. "All in good time, Dink. I really want Mom to hear this."
"But she'll hear it whether you tell us now or not," said Dinky.
"Yes, but I want you all to hear it at the same time. That'll make it all the more special."
"But I said I would act surprised, so it'll still be just as special."
"Dink, I thought you didn't like lying."
"It's not lying; it's playing pretend. There's a difference."
I would've continued the argument, but I was just in such a good mood that I really didn't feel like it. Besides, in a very childish logic way, Dinky kinda had a point.
"Alright, alright. You win," I said with a sigh. "Mr. Karat is letting me run the jewelry store by myself tomorrow."
Dinky gasped and then tackled me into a hug. "That's wonderful news!" she cheered. "Congratulations, Amethyst!"
"Yeah, congratulations Sparkler," said Carrot Top. "I'm sure Derpy's gonna be very proud of you." She then peeked back into the kitchen. "Actually, I've got a few carrots left over. Do you want me to make some carrot muffins for dessert to celebrate?"
"Nah, that's fine," I said. "Besides, Mom will probably end up making them, anyway. You know how she is."
"All too well," said Carrot Top with a laugh.
I guess there's no sense in beating around the bush any longer. In case you haven't figured it out yet, my mom is Derpy Hooves; Ponyville's resident mailmare. Most ponies know her for being a kooky klutz with weird eyes and a muffin obsession. And well, she is. All of that is true. But, she's more than that, and I mean a lot more. She also has a big heart and a strong sense of determination to overcome her weaknesses. Like Dinky, she's always willing to lend a hoof to those who need it, even if she goofs it up a few times. Actually, that's how I ended up living with her. It's, kinda hard for me to talk about, so I won't get into it here. All you need to know for now is that I'm very happy that a pony like Derpy is in my life.
"So, what happened?" Carrot Top asked. "How did you convince Karat to let you run the store?"
"Oh, he actually came to me this time," I said. "He's going on a business trip to Trottingham, so I'm looking after things while he's gone."
Dinky then looked up at me with concern in her eyes. "But, won't that mean that you'll be all alone?"
"Well, technically," I said. "But I believe that I can handle the responsibility."
"It's not a matter of responsibility," said Dinky, shaking her head. "Won't you get lonely?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Why would I worry about that, Dink? I've got a job to do."
"That's not enough to keep you from getting lonely," said Dinky.
I sighed. "Dink, listen. It doesn't matter if I'm lonely or not."
"Yes, it does," said Dinky firmly. "Mama says if you're doing something for the first time, it's best to do it with a friend."
I started to get a good feeling as to where this was going. "Dink, I'll be okay," I assured her.
"'Okay' is not good enough. I want you to be happy, too," said Dinky. "So, can I help you tomorrow? I promise not to do anything without your permission."
While I knew Dinky would stick to that promise, I wasn't sure if I could convince Karat to let her help me. Smart or not, Dinky's still just a kid. A kid without her Cutie Mark, no less. This wouldn't be a bad thing per se, except that we had a problem with some Cutie Mark Crusaders Jewelry Salesponies last week. Don't ask; I'm actually trying to forget about that incident.
"Well, I'll have to ask Mr. Karat if it's okay," I said. "But if he says yes, well, why not?"
"Thanks, Amethyst," Dinky cooed, giving me another hug. "You won't regret this."
You know, it's hard to be cynical around kids, especially Dinky. In the back of my mind, I knew this had the potential to get me in trouble, but really, I didn't care. I'm just glad I've got ponies looking out for me, even if they sometimes take it too far.
Just then, there was a loud thump outside.
"That must be Mama!" said Dinky. "I'll get it!"
In a flash, she darted to the door and opened it. I then heard her gasp in horror. Puzzled, I turned to see what she was so excited about. When I did, well, I had the same reaction.
Now, something most ponies know about Derpy is that she crashes a lot. Her telltale wall-eyed stare is actually a condition that limits her depth perception. Usually when she crashes, it's either cute, mildly annoying, or mind-numbingly frustrating. This time, however, it was none of those things. It was, actually kinda horrific.
She was covered from head to hoof in bruises and what I could only describe as burns. She had a nasty-looking scratch on her right cheek. Even her mailbag looked like it had seen better days.
"Mama, what happened?" asked Dinky. "Are you alright?"
"Mmmph. I-I'm okay, Muffin," Derpy said weakly, struggling to get to her feet. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"What the heck happened to you, Mom?" I asked. "You look horrible."
"It's, not as bad as it could've been," said Derpy in a strained tone, still struggling.
"Here, let me help you," I said, placing her foreleg over my shoulder.
Derpy smiled. "Th-thanks, Ammy," she said. I carried her inside and had her lay down on the couch.
"C-can we get you anything, Mama?" Dinky asked meekly.
"N-no, I'm fine," said Derpy. "I just need to rest for a bit."
"Derpy, is that you? I was wondering when you'd— Oh my goodness!"
Carrot Top had the exact same reaction as Dinky and I when she reemerged from the kitchen.
"Derpy, you look like a wreck!" she said, running up to her. "What happened?"
Derpy sighed. "I-I don't know. I was just flying around and minding my own business when something just came out of nowhere and shot me out of the sky. The rest is, kind of a blur, but I do remember seeing somepony protecting me from something."
This, was bad. There isn't a pony in Ponyville who would do something like that. Especially not to a mare like Derpy.
"Well, at least you're still alive," I said.
"Yeah," said Derpy with a warm smile. "Thanks to the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well."
I blinked. "The what?"
"The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. She's the one who saved me," said Derpy.
That didn't really sit right with me. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well was a bizarre Ponyville phenomenon from a long time ago. She was this weird costumed pony who kept showing up Rainbow Dash with these acts of heroism. After Rainbow Dash crashed our first celebration honoring her, she just up and vanished. It was kinda hard for me to believe that she'd decide to come back now of all times.
"Derpy, Mare-Do-Well disappeared a long time ago," said Carrot Top, sharing my sentiments. "Maybe you were just seeing things."
Derpy shook her head. "No, Carrot Top. I know what I saw. It was the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. She rescued me from, something. I don't know what."
"Should we tell anypony?" asked Dinky.
"Maybe we should let Princess Twilight know," said Carrot Top. "Sparkler, do you think you could go tell her?"
"No, it's okay," said Derpy. "I'll tell her tomorrow. I don't want anypony worrying about me."
"We can't help it, Mom," I said with a sigh. "You look like you need a doctor."
Derpy chuckled. "Ammy, you know I've had worse than this. I just need some rest, and I'll be back to my old self in no time."
Oh, did I forget to mention that Derpy can be pretty stubborn at times? I don't know if it's because of her physical weaknesses or whatever, but once she sets her mind to something, it's almost impossible to dissuade her.
"Well, you just rest for now, Mama," said Dinky, giving Derpy a peck on the cheek. "If you need anything, be sure to let us know, okay?"
Derpy smiled. "Okay, Muffin. I will."
***
The rest of the day was just us looking after Derpy and having dinner. I did manage to tell her my good news, although it was rather trivial at this point. Still, it brought a smile to her face, and I couldn't ask for anything more.
I had a few questions, of course, but Derpy insisted that it was nothing to worry about. She was gonna tell Princess Twilight tomorrow (yes, a princess lives in our town; you figure that one out), and she'd no doubt find a way to sort it out. Then I could focus on running the jewelry store with Dinky and proving myself to Karat. Despite the mysterious attack on my mom, I still had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a great day.
I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.