Summer is over and its time for Derpy to finish her final year of school. But she never realized just how hard it would be with Dinky in her life.
Derpy thought that everything would be better with Glittering Gem in jail and Dinky in her permanent custody. But things are never that simple, as Derpy now has to balance taking care of a foal and finishing school. Lets just hope that thats all she has to worry about.
Cover art by: DJwolfdragon Be sure to check out her art
“Miss Hooves,” the light brown receptionist said to the pacing pegasus pony. Removing her thick silver glasses, she continued to address the mare, “Your daughter is fine, there’s no need to worry.”
“But I can’t help but worry!” The gray mare nearly yelled at the receptionist. The entire situation was putting a lot of stress on the mare and she obviously wasn’t handling it well.
“It’s ok Miss Hooves,” the receptionist said as she walked out from behind her desk. “All mothers go through what your feeling right now. That’s why we spent the last week easing both of you into this. There is no need to worry, your little ‘muffin‘, is in safe and competent hooves.”
“Are you sure?” Derpy asked, still worried for her daughters safety. “I mean, what if she can’t do it? What if she can’t handle the stress!?”
“I think you’re the one who can’t handle the stress, the receptionist chuckled, placing a reassuring hoof on the pegasus. “I know it’s hard, but I promise that your daughter is in capable hooves.”
“Ok,“ the mare sighed, looking at the ground with her misaligned eyes. She could already feel a tight knot that had formed in her chest loosen slightly. Looking at a nearby clock, she couldn’t help but groan as it read 12:34, “How much longer do I have to wait?”
“About 4 more hours,” the receptionist said as she walked back behind her desk.
“Buck,“ Derpy whispered to herself as she went back to her pacing.
(o^o)
“Red! It needs more red!” The young foal stared at the paper in front of her for a moment before smearing more of the sticky red liquid on the paper in front of her. “Maybe some yellow?”
“That’s beautiful Dinky,” a large unicorn mare said with a smile. “Who’s it for?”
“Mommy!” Dinky lifted her stuffed pony up in her hooves, coating the sides in red paint.
“So it’s for your mom?” the pony chuckled as she took the paint covered stuffed pony in her magic. With a small flash of light, it was clean once again, revealing its resemblance to the young unicorns mother. “She’s going to love it,” she continued, levitating a wet cloth over to clean Dinky of paint.
“I hope so, I worked really hard on it!” Dinky couldn’t help but smile as she imagined her mothers happy reaction to getting her picture. Looking down at it, she was happy with her work. She had used every color she could find, mixing it all together on the paper. “Why did all the different colors make black?”
“I’m just going to place it over here with the others,” the unicorn said as she carefully levitated Dinky’s picture up and set it into a nearby metal rack. “It should be dry by the time your mom comes to pick you up,” the unicorn said, never taking her eyes off the foal.
“Oh! Come check on mine Miss Lemonway,” another small unicorn called from nearby. Looking over, Dinky’s attention was immediately brought to the picture that sat in front of the filly.
“That’s way better than mine,” Dinky sulked as she looked at the filly’s picture. It was a stick figure pony, drawn using a red crayon. It even had a orange mane and tail.
“Don’t worry Dinky,” the filly said, noticing Dinky’s sad expression as she stared at her picture. “I can show you how to draw this if you want.”
“That’s very kind of you to offer Lily,” Miss Lemonway said as she levitated the filly’s picture to the rack as well. “But right now, It’s time for everyponies afternoon snack.”
“Yay! Muffin time!” Dinky watched as the older unicorn levitated a small tray of snacks over from a nearby shelf. Most of the snacks were simple fruits and vegetables which were passed to several surrounding fillies and colts, but right in the middle of the tray, was a large blueberry muffin.
“It still amazes me that you can eat one of these,” Miss Lemonway chuckled as she set a small muffin down in front of Dinky. Without a moments hesitation, the young foal grabbed the muffin with her forelegs and began nibbling on its top.
“Why does she get that?!” a small brown pegasus chocked, putting the apple he had back on the table. “Is she even old enough to have that?”
“Now High Lane,” Miss Lemonway began, now passing out small drinks. “Her mother left it for her, saying that she wanted her to have it if she was well behaved.”
“But I want a muffin too,“ the pegasus sighed, his ears dropping.
“You can have some of mine.” Dinky held out her muffin, wishing to share with the sad looking pegasus.
“Isn’t that sweet High Lane,” Miss Lemonway smiled, noticing Dinky’s gesture. “She’s willing to share her snack. She’s such a thoughtful young filly.
“Never mind,” High Lane huffed, picking his apple back up and taking a bite. “Besides, its covered in her foal drool.”
“Don’t mind him sweetie,” Miss Lemonway told Dinky as she finished passing out napkins. “He’s just cranky because it’s almost nap time.”
(9_6)
“So how did she do today?” a large pegasus pony asked as he walked into the living room, buttoning a blue police uniform with his hooves.
“Dinky did fine,” Derpy sighed as she wiped the young foals face with a cloth. “I on the other hoof, nearly walked a hole in the daycares lobby.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” the pegasus responded as he looked into a mirror to brush his silver mane back. “I was the exact same way.”
“Yeah,” Derpy chuckled, looking up at the pegasus. “But Miss Lemonway said that Dinky was very well behaved and was even willing to share her snack with one of the other foals. She even made me a picture with hoof paint.”
“I know,” the older pegasus said with a smile. “I saw it hanging on the fridge. It’s beautiful Dinky.” Derpy couldn’t help but giggle as the young unicorn smiled at her compliment.
“So, do you have everything you need for school in a few days?” the pegasus asked as he looked at the clock.
“Yes dad,” Derpy huffed, annoyed that her father had asked her for the fifth time that day. “Everything’s already in my bags and ready to go,” Derpy said, nuzzling the side of her chin on Dinky’s head.
“Good,” Derpy’s father said with a smile as he turned to leave. “I’ll be back in the morning, so be sure to get to sleep on time for once, ok?”
“I will,” Derpy said as she picked Dinky up in her forelegs, “and dad, thanks again for the help. I promise to pay you back when I can.”
“Derpy,” the older pegasus said as he stopped in front of the front door, a look of seriousness in his eyes as he looked back at the two. “I don’t want to her anymore of this ‘paying me back’ stuff. I told you that I want to help you with your decision.”
With that, Derpy’s father left the house, leaving Derpy and Dinky to finish their night together.
“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.
“Hey, Derpy?” Minerva asked, as everypony continued to wait for the teacher, Mostly just talking to one another about their summers.
“Yes?” Derpy asked, taking her eyes off the blank chalkboard in front of her. She really wished there were some posters on the bland, surrounding walls. She tried to imagine something hanging on them, but all that came to mind was the picture Dinky had made her the day before. “At least it'd be colorful,” she mumbled under her breath.
“You said something about having a daughter yesterday, is that true?” the unicorn asked in a whisper, trying not to draw too much attention to the group.
“Yeah,” Dilvent said anxiously. “Yesterday was so hectic with all that start of year stuff, we never got the chance to ask about it.” Even though he shifted closer in his seat to hear Derpy, he still wore an oddly straight face, his forelegs shaking slightly.
“Well, yeah, I do,” Derpy said with a slight blush. While Dilvent and Minerva looked at each other with confused stares, Derpy reached into one of her bags and pulled out a small picture. “This is my daughter, Dinky.”
Both Minerva and Dilvent looked at the photo in their friends hoof. It showed a small unicorn foal with periwinkle colored fur being held by Derpy. Both shared matching eye color and mane color, but, while Derpy’s mane was a bit jagged on its ends, the foals were rounded.
“Wow,” Minerva said, a clear look of shock and confusion on her face. “I didn’t even know you'd been pregnant. How?”
“Well, I didn’t actually give birth to her,” Derpy said sheepishly. “I'm adopting her, I just have to wait until I turn eighteen to sign the paperwork.” Again, Derpy blushed, imagining the day she would be able to sign the papers and legally be the foal's mother, rather than her legal guardian.
“She’s so cute!” Dilvent’s voice chimed in. The group couldn’t help but chuckle at the smile he had. He looked like a little colt in a toy shop, “I just wanna hug her like a teddy b-bea-bear… I mean, cute foal.”
“Thanks,” Derpy chuckled. “If you think she looks cute there, you should see her sleeping.”
“I don’t think he was talking about the filly,“ Carrot Top interjected with a sly grin. “I bet he was talking about the new hot momma on the streets.”
“CARROT TOP!?” Both Derpy and Dilvent yelled, both faces blushing madly.
“I am not hot!” Derpy whispered angrily towards her chuckling friend, already noticing how much attention the group was drawing. “You’re making a scene.”
“Tell that to him,” Carrot Top said, as she pointed a hoof at Dilvent. The stallion had proceeded to hide his head inside of his black jacket, his white ears just poking out of the neck hole.
“I was talking about the foal,” he huffed through his clothing.
“Sheesh,” Carrot Top chuckled, staring at the embarrassed stallion. “It was just a joke, no need to get angry.”
Suddenly, the room fell silent as a golden yellow unicorn walked into the room, her curly maroon hair bouncing slightly. “Good morning class,” the unicorn said as she levitated a piece of chalk in her magic and began writing on the board. “My name is Miss Dian, and I’ll be your health teacher for this year.”
Derpy just stared forward in complete shock as the unicorn wrote her name on the top of the board and did a quick scan of the room. As the two made eye contact a look of shock also appeared on the unicorns face.
“It’s you!” both exclaimed as they pointed a hoof at one another.
(o^o)
“My moms really smart,” Lily said threw her teeth, a yellow crayon in her mouth.
“My mommies smart too!” Dinky couldn't help but look at the picture her friend was drawing. She had already drawn two stick ponies, one yellow and the other a light red.
“That’s mom,” the unicorn stated, pointing at the yellow pony. “And that’s dad,” she continued pointing at the other pony. “I see him on the weekends.”
“Is he like grandpa?” Dinky continued to watch as Lily drew herself into the picture in-between the two stick ponies.
“That’s a great picture Lily! Is that your dad?” Lemonway asked as she pointed at the red stick pony.
“Uh huh,” the filly replied as she put her crayon down. “Mom says he works a lot so I can only see him on the weekends. But we always have a lot of fun together.”
“I’m sure you do,” Lemonway replied as she picked Dinky up. “Come on everypony, its story time.”
“Yay! Story time!”
(9_6)
“Again Miss Hooves, I’m sorry for my outburst at the beginning of class,” Dian said as most of the class began to leave the room. “I just never expected”
“It’s ok Miss Dian,” Derpy chuckled as she looked back at her friends. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”
“Are we missing something here, because I’m pretty confused right now?”
“Oh yes,” Dian said as she looked over towards Derpy’s friends. “We met each other briefly yesterday when I dropped my daughter off at daycare, although it was only at a passing.”
“Ooooh!” the other three ponies said together, each nodding in understanding.
“So which class is your brother or sister in Miss Hooves? Maybe they're in the same class as my foal?” Dian asked as she looked back at Derpy.
“Oh, I don’t have any siblings,” Derpy chuckled, not noticing the confused look on her teachers face.
“Then why were you there?” Dian asked, scratching under her chin with a hoof.
“I was dropping off my daughter,” Derpy said with a smile. Pulling out the picture once again, Derpy showed it to her teacher. An odd silence filled the room as nopony said anything. Suddenly, a wild laugh broke the silence.
Even Derpy couldn’t hold back a chuckle at the expression her teacher now had. One of her magenta eyes was twitching while the others pupil had shrunk to a miniscule size. She also seemed to be mumbling something, but her voice was too low for anypony to hear clearly.
“B-but your… and I mean…” the unicorn began stuttering, finally finding her voice.
“Oh buck, we’re gonna be late for next period,” Minerva interrupted as she looked at a nearby wall clock, barely giving her friends time to follow as she rushed out of the room.
“Hay, wait for us!” Carrot Top called as she rushed after the unicorn, closely followed by a laughing stallion and a chuckling pegasus.
“Okay, Dilvent, it wasn’t that funny,” Minerva sighed as the group made their way down another hall, the stallion still laughing hysterically.
“But did you see the look on her face?! Derpy, we gotta do that again!” Dilvent suddenly stopped halfway through the hall and looked back at Derpy, a look of excitement in his eyes as he flashed a smile of dagger shaped teeth.
“Close your mouth you dingus!” Carrot Top shot as she hit Dilvent across the face with a hoof. “And you wonder why ponies are afraid of you?!”
“Can we finish this discussion after we get to our next class?” Minerva interrupted, still making her way down the hall.
“Party pooper,” Dilvent sighed as he rushed to catch up.
“Lets go Derpy,” Carrot Top quickly said. Derpy chuckled as she followed close behind the group, making their way down a nearby staircase.
“So, what do all of you have next period?” Derpy asked as they entered the first floor. “Because I don't want to be stuck going to gym alone this year.”
“I got AP magic this period,” Minerva said with a confident smile. “This is going to be great!”
“I got bio,” Carrot Top grumbled, a clear look of displeasure on her face. “What about you Dilvent?”
“I got gym too,” the stallion said with a shrug.
“Well then, lets go,” Derpy said as she made her way towards the gymnasium.
“Lets not, but say we did,” Dilvent mumbled as he began to follow the pegasus. “Besides, all were going to do is sit around as they give us a locker and tell us to work out on our own.”
“Then we can sit and talk,” Derpy said with a smile as she continued towards the gym..
“Exactly,” Carrot Top said, a devious smile on her face as she followed behind the white coated stallion, “the perfect time to confess your love for one an…”
“Just get to class,” Minerva interrupted, dragging Carrot Top away by her curly orange tail.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Dilvent sighed, trotting towards the gym entrance. Derpy chuckled as she proceeded to follow her friend into the gym.
“You know she’s just messing with you,” Derpy giggled as she followed Dilvent towards an open group of benches.
“I know that,” Dilvent huffed as he laid himself down on one of the benches. “But even you have to admit that it’s getting annoying.”
“Maybe if you actually found a special somepony, she would leave you alone,” Derpy chuckled, sitting down on the ground. Dilvent just huffed and looked away while Derpy smiled, knowing she had hit a soft spot. “You're too easy, you know that?”
“Bah,” Dilvent huffed, still looking away. Derpy just shook her head and decided to look around. The gymnasium wasn’t that big, but still held a lot of different courts and baskets. The roof was even made to open up so pegasus could fly in and out of it.
“So are you going to participate in any pegasus classes this year?” Derpy asked, still looking around. About half of the other benches were already full of other ponies, almost an even mix of pegasus, unicorns, and earth ponies.
“Nah, I still suck at keeping my wings out,” Dilvent sighed as he looked over at all the other ponies. “That and I had to up my prescription again.”
“Well, I guess that can’t be helped,” Derpy sighed as the bell rang. Looking towards the door, Derpy watched as the rest of the ponies set for the period entered, she recognized a few, but only one stood out to her.
“So I guess Shooting Star’s in our period this year,” Dilvent commented as the mare in question walked in. Derpy could already feel her anger reaching a new point as she stared daggers at the pegasus, as if daring her to do something.
“Hay, Derpy, is that a tracking device on her hoof?” Dilvent asked out of nowhere. Derpy wasn’t surprised to see a small black box attached to the mares left foreleg. Even from that distance, she knew it was in fact a tracking device, her father having shown her one once before.
“Well that’s better than nothing I guess,” Derpy seethed, the anger in her voice easily noticeable.
“I see you two are as good of friends as ever” Dilvent sighed, rolling his eyes. Derpy huffed in annoyance as she kept her gaze locked on the pegasus. “You know why that things on her leg?”
“Yep,” Derpy said, finally taking her eyes off Shooting Star only to stare angrily at a wall.
“You gonna tell me what it is?”
“Nope,” Derpy continued. “All you need to know is that she deserves to be in jail for what she did.”
“Alrighty then,” Dilvent sighed as he got up from the bench. “Not like I really wanted to know anyways.”
“Then why did you ask?” Derpy asked, a little annoyed to still be on the subject.
“Because obviously, it annoys you,” Dilvent chuckled as a sly grin spread over his face. “Besides, I’m bored and the gym teachers aren't here yet.”
“You know what, I’m done talking to you!” Derpy huffed as she walked towards a corner of the room.
“What did I do this time?!” Dilvent called as he rushed after Derpy.
“You didn't do anything,” Derpy sighed as she made it to the wall. Derpy slouched against the wall as she turned to look back at Shooting Star. The pegasus was now sitting alone at the other end of the room, staring at the black box attached to her leg. “I Just feel like she was let off too easy for what she did, and it makes me SO angry that I just want to attack her again and…”
“Again?!” Dilvent interrupted loud enough to draw the attention of most of the other ponies in the room.
“Yes, again!” Derpy whispered, becoming even more annoyed. “Now can we just stop talking about it…”
“Ok,” Dilvent chuckled, obviously trying to lighten the mood. “Why not tell me about your daughter then?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” Derpy grinned, the mood rising slightly.
(o^o)
“I’m sure she’ll be here at any moment sweetie,” Lemonway told the waiting foal, chuckling slightly.
“But its almost time for lunch and mommy said she was going to come for lunch again!” Dinky kept her gaze locked on the room door as she partially hopped in place, waiting for the slightest indication that it would open. “Maybe she’ll bring me a muffin today for a snack.”
“Hey, Dinky!” Lily called as she rushed over to where the waiting foal sat. She held a giant grin and seemed really excited about something. “You missed it Dinky. I did magic!”
“Magic?” Dinky stared at the filly, slightly confused.
“Well, it was by accident,” the filly admitted, still smiling. “But I still did it! I was even able to control it for a second!”
Dinky continued to stare at her friend, still not understanding what she was talking about. She knew unicorns could do magic, but never paid enough attention to really care.
“That’s very impressive Lily,” Lemonway said, having heard what the filly said. “But I don't want you to trying it again unless you’re with your mother, ok?”
“Yes, Miss Lemonway,” Lily replied still smiling brightly. Looking back at Dinky, “I can't wait for my mom to show me how to levitate stuff.”
Just then, the room door opened as a gray pegasus pony walked into the room.
“Mommy!” Dinky rushed to her mother as she was scooped up into a soft hug.
(9_6)
“So how has she been today Miss Lemonway?” Derpy asked as she carried Dinky over to the rooms large round table.
“She’s been doing great Miss Hooves,” the older unicorn responded as she wiped a young colts face with a cloth. “She’s very smart for her age.”
“Because she’s my smart little muffin,” Derpy giggled as a small yellow unicorn sat next to her and Dinky.
“I did magic today,” the little unicorn abruptly announced to Derpy, a wide grin on her face. “I was able to turn a page in my picture book.”
“That's very impressive,” Derpy told the filly, smiling at her excitement. “I bet your parents are going to be proud.”
The filly merely giggled in agreement before taking a bite out of a piece of celery she had in front of her. Suddenly, Derpy recognized the young filly.
“Your Miss Dian’s daughter, aren't you?” Derpy said, remember seeing the two together the morning before.
“You know my mom?” the filly asked excitedly with a smile.
“Uh huh,” Derpy replied as she felt Dinky try to get her attention. Looking down, the pegasus noticed that Dinky had dropped her spoon and couldn't reach it. “She’s one of my teachers in school.”
“Cool,” the filly exclaimed, taking another bite of her celery.
(o^o)
“Why can't you stay though mommy?” Dinky hated that her mother had to leave, even though she knew that she'd be back in a few more hours. “Can't you stay and play?”
“I’ll be back to get you in a few hours muffin,” Derpy said giving Dinky a final hug. Dinky did her best to squeeze as much love into the hug as she could, hoping that the day would pass by quickly.
“If you see my mom, can you tell her that I did magic?” Lily asked from the table, her smile still spread wide.
“If I see her, I promise to tell her,” Derpy giggled as she made her way out of the room.
“I wish mommy didn't have to leave all the time. I liked it better when we spent all day together.”
(9_6)
“You told them?!” Derpy yelled at Carrot Top as they made their way down the street.
“What?” Carrot Top huffed back. “You were off seeing Dinky and they asked me out of concern. Its not like you told me I couldn't.”
“I know that, it’s just…” Derpy trailed off, a little annoyed that her friend had discussed her personal matters without her permission.
“Look, I know you don't want other ponies knowing about everything that happened,” Carrot Top apologized, moving in front of Derpy to gain her attention. “But they're our friends, and you can't just... not tell them.”
“But did you see the look in Minerva’s eyes?” Derpy asked, finally regaining control of her voice.
“Yeah,” Carrot Top smiled, obviously thinking she knew right. “It was the look you give a friend…”
“When you pity them!” Derpy interrupted, taking an abrupt turn, just missing a passing couple.
“Derpy!” Carrot Top yelped, “nopony pities you, you know that right?”
“No, its my muffin that they pity,” Derpy sighed as the daycare came into view. “I know its something I shouldn't worry so much about, but I don't want ponies feeling sorry for her. I want them to love her, like I do.”
“Derpy…”
“I know I’m overreacting, but I can't help it when it comes to my muffin,” Derpy once again interrupted, now standing outside the daycares front door. “I just... just..”
“Its ok,” Carrot Top said with a caring smile. “I’m sorry I told them without asking. But I’m sure they don't pity her.”
“Yeah,” Derpy weakly chuckled. “Come on, once we get Dinky we can go get ice cream together.”
“I’d like that,” Carrot Top replied, following Derpy into the daycare.
“Good morning everypony,” Derpy said, flashing her friends a warm smile. She couldn't help but feel refreshed after an entire weekend of quality time with her daughter, although Minerva didn't look as happy as she did.
“That’s two weeks, Derpy!” Minerva huffed.
At first, Derpy stared forward in confusion, trying her best to understand what her friend was talking about. Looking toward Carrot Top for a clue, Derpy was let down as the earth pony snored loudly from her seat, drool dripping onto her desk.
“What are you talking about?” Derpy asked.
“Your foal!” Minerva snapped. “I thought we were your friends, but apparently,” she continued, rolling her eyes with another huff, “we aren't good enough to get to meet your daughter.”
“Is that it?” Derpy giggled as the unicorn crossed her forelegs in frustration. “You know you're allowed at my house whenever you want, nopony was stopping you!”
“I know that,” Minerva sighed, rolling her eyes as Carrot Top snapped awake with a loud snort. “But I’d rather be invited to meet her, not just show up unannounced.”
“Who meets what now?” Carrot Top asked as she wiped a bit of drool off her chin.
“Minerva’s just complaining because she hasn't met Dinky yet,” Derpy told her friend.
“Really?” Carrot Top looked at the unicorn with an oddly shocked stare, “what have you been doing for the past two weeks that you haven't been able to meet her?”
“Family issues,” Minerva flatly said, turning to look in another direction. Derpy couldn't help but see her friend shudder slightly, “but it's settled now.”
“Well, do you want to meet her today?” Derpy asked as the unicorn turned to face her again.
“Sorry, but I have things I still have to do this week. So how about…”
“Then why are you complaining about this now?!” Carrot Top interrupted.
Ignoring Carrot, Minerva continued, a look of annoyance crossing her face, “... This weekend?”
“Okay,” Derpy chuckled. “How about on Saturday afternoon? We can all hang out at my house or go to the park.”
“That’d be nice,” Minerva said with a smile. “I’d bet Dilvent would like that too.”
“Speaking of which,” Carrot Top interrupted, looking towards the stallions empty desk. “Where is he? Homeroom should be starting soon.”
“It’s just homeroom,” Derpy interjected, “attendance doesn’t affect any of our grades. Maybe he got sick over the weekend and won't be able to come in today?”
“Or maybe he’s talking to Shooting Star,” Minerva said as she looked towards the door.
“What!?” Derpy snapped as she looked towards the room entrance. Like her friend had said, Dilvent was walking side by side with Shooting Star, a smile on the stallions face.
“What are you doing?!” Derpy yelled, drawing the entire rooms attention. Normally, Derpy would sink back into her seat, embarrassed by the fact that she had drawn everyponies attention, but a rising anger was blocking out her sense of thought.
“Derpy, he’s just talking to her,” Minerva quickly replied, trying her best to calm her friend down. “There shouldn't be anything wrong with that.”
Derpy continued to stare at the two as Dilvent hastily finished his conversation and made his way over to the group. She couldn't help but take the happy smile he had as an insult.
“Good morning, everypony!” Dilvent forced a chuckle as he noticed the stare Derpy was giving him. “Whatever it was, I swear I didn’t do it!”
“So you weren't just being all friendly with that... That... gah?!” Derpy snapped. The bell rang, indicating the start of homeroom, but all that meant was another ten minutes of sitting around while her anger escalated.
“Okay, so I was talking to Shooting Star,” Dilvent chuckled, smiling sheepishly. He began rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof as he looked down at the desk in front of him. “She just wanted my help with something.”
Derpy quickly focused her gaze outside before she said something she didn't want to. She felt angry with her friend, but knew that she was overreacting. Breathing a loud sigh, she looked back at the stallion. “So what did she need help with?”
“Sorry,” the stallion chuckled, “she kinda asked me not to tell you.” Dilvent sheepishly smiled again as he squirmed in his seat, “but its nothing to be worried about!”
“Okay,” Carrot Top interjected. “Now I’m worried.”
“You know what, I was about to let you see my daughter this weekend, but I don't know anymore.“ Derpy quickly turned and looked back out the window, hiding the smile on her face. Her anger towards her friend had faded, but felt that that threat would make him think twice about talking to the pegasus again.
“I think you broke him again,” Minerva said, drawing Derpy’s attention back towards the stallion. Once again, he had his head stuck inside his jacket, talking to himself under his breath.
But even though she didn't blame Dilvent for talking to Shooting Star, she couldn't sooth the anger of seeing one of her friends happily talking to a mare she hated almost as much as Glittering Gem.
“Derpy, are you coming or not?” Minerva called from the doorway.
“Oh, sorry,” Derpy sheepishly chuckled, realizing the bell for next period had rung while she sat thinking to herself. Getting up from her seat, Derpy followed her friends toward the next class.
As the day continued, Derpy tried to push her worries out of her head and was ready to spend time with her daughter. She enjoyed spending her lunch period with her Dinky, even though she could use the time to catch up on some neglected homework. It was always worth the smile on Dinky’s face when she walked in. Unfortunately, she knew it couldn't continue forever.
“Excuse me, Miss Lemonway?” Derpy called to the unicorn, directing her over towards the side of the room, “can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course,” the unicorn replied, keeping her gaze on the foals as they ate.
“Its just... I won't be coming to spend lunch with Dinky everyday anymore.”
“Oh my, did something happen?” Lemonway asked.
Derpy just chuckled and waved her worries away with a hoof. “No, its just that I don't think it's fair to come every day and spend time with Dinky when no other parents do,” Derpy responded, forcing a smile.
“Derpy, there’s nothing wrong with you coming everyday to spend lunch with your daughter,“ Lemonway said with a serious tone. “I actually wish other parents would spend their lunch with their foals.”
“I know, its just... I r-really have a lot of schoolwork I need to start catching up on and I really don't want to, but I think my best option is to do it during lunch.”
“I understand,” Lemonway said with a caring smile. “You’ll still come every now and then though, right?”
“Of course!” Derpy hadn’t meant to yell but, she really hated having her schoolwork pile up, and didn't want to neglect her daughter when they were at home just to finish a few questions of homework. “I still plan on coming every Friday.”
“I understand,” the unicorn chuckled, placing a reassuring hoof on Derpy’s shoulder. “I know its hard being a mother at your age, but you’re doing very well.”
“Well I... I’m trying my hardest.” Derpy couldn't help but blush at the compliment.
“And that’s all anypony could ask for,” the mare continued, quickly catching a glance at a hanging wall clock. “Well, it looks like its that time once again, have a good day at school, Derpy!”
“I will, thank you.” Derpy quickly rushed back to her waiting daughter, giving her a heartfelt hug and goodbye before rushing back to school.
The rest of the day past by uneventfully as Derpy continued with her classes. Although, Dilvent seemed to have taken Derpy's threat from earlier seriously. He continued to seclude himself to the inside of his jacket throughout the day.
“You do realize I didn't mean what I said earlier about not getting to meet Dinky, right?”
“What?” Dilvent stuck his head back out into the open, the final bell of the day ringing. After a moment, a look of realization crossed his face. “Oh... I know that. I was just thinking about something else.”
“And what would that be?” Minerva asked as she put the last of her books away.
“What we talked about during lunch,” Dilvent sighed as he tossed his saddlebags on his back. For a moment, Minerva looked at Derpy with a expression between understanding and worry.
“Am I missing something?”
“Just me thinking, is all,” Dilvent quickly responded with a sheepish smile. Stealing a quick glance at the door, Dilvent quickly rushed to his hooves. “Oh, look at that... I gotta go... home,” Dilvent quickly said as he rushed towards the door.
“There’s something wrong with that stallion,” Carrot Top muttered as she left the room, chuckling for some strange reason.
Derpy watched as her two friends left the room, still confused. She couldn't help but wonder if she had done something worrisome.
“Don't worry about him,” Minerva said, cutting into Derpy’s thoughts. “He’s just trying to help too many ponies at once again.”
“For somepony who hates social interaction, he sure does worry a lot about other ponies problems,” Derpy sighed, grabbing her bags and heading for the door.
(o^o)
Dinky stared at the plate in front of her. She had never been given two muffins at once before. She couldn't help but feel a little worried. Especially with how worried her mother had looked for the past few hours.
“Uh, Dinky?” the foals mother said, drawing her attention. Dinky could still see a look of worry and concern on her mothers face.
“What’s wrong mommy?” Dinky tried to smile, hoping that it would help calm her mother down.
“I won't be able to come to daycare for lunch everyday from now on.”
“That’s okay mommy.” Dinky continued to smile at her mother. She had heard her talk to Miss Lemonway earlier and even though she didn't fully understand, she knew that it was something her mother didn't want to do, but had to do.
“I’ll be okay.”
(9_6)
Derpy stared at her daughter through the few tears in her eyes, a wave of relief washing over her as Dinky continued to smile. Even though her daughter was too young to speak, she could tell that she was saying it was ok.
“Thank you so much for understanding, muffin.” Derpy couldn't help but give her daughter a big loving hug. “But I promise to come every Friday.”
“I’m not interrupting anything am I?”
“Hi, Dad,” Derpy greeted as she let go of Dinky. The moment she was released, the young foal began eating the first muffin she could get her hooves on. “No, you're not interrupting. I was just telling Dinky how I won't be able to continue seeing her everyday at lunch.”
“Homework finally catching up to you, I see,” the stallion chuckled, making his way to the kitchen fridge.
“I never expected there to be so much,” Derpy replied as she took the partially eaten muffin from Dinky’s hooves and replaced it with a sippy cup of juice. “I'd rather work on most of it at school so that I don't have to worry about it here at home.”
Derpy's father merely grunted a response, lifting a milk carton over his head and took several gulps.
“Dad!? Use a cup, you're setting a bad example for Dinky!”
“I am not,” the stallion huffed back, placing the milk back into the fridge. But as he was doing this, Derpy couldn't help but notice as Dinky tried to lift her sippy cup over her head, almost falling on her back in the process.
(o^o)
“Bye mommy, see you after you're done with school.” Dinky continued to wave as she watched her mother leave. She didn't like the idea of not seeing her for most of the day, but planned to do her best and make her mom proud.
“Good morning Dinky,” Lily said as she made her way over towards Dinky. “You ok? You don't look so good.”
“Mommy’s not coming to see me at lunch today.” Dinky couldn't help but slouch a little as she already began to miss her mother more than usual. “I just want today to be over with already.”
(9_6)
“So you're actually going to join us for lunch today?” Minerva looked at Derpy with a look of shock, a small grin crossing her lips.
“Only because I have homework I need to get finished,” Derpy quickly responded as she and her friends entered the health room. “I’m still going on Fridays and days where I don’t have to worry about homework.”
“Why not just do it at home, after school?” Dilvent asked, looking towards the chalkboard.
“Because that means less time to spend with Dinky after school, I just think this will give me more time with her, since it’s twenty minutes going to and from the daycare already. If I use that time to get through my homework, then I figure I’ll get more time to spend with Dinky once we’re both home.”
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” Dilvent replied. Again, he looked at the chalkboard, although when Derpy looked, she couldn't see anything.
“What are you looking at?” Carrot Top asked first, also staring at the blank chalkboard.
“Absolutely nothing at all,” the stallion chuckled in reply.
“Alright class, take your seats,” Miss Dian said as she entered the room, the bell ringing just as she reached her desk. “Today we're going to continue our lesson on health plans.”
Even as everypony began taking their seats, Derpy continued to watch her teacher. Ever since she had told her that she had a daughter, her teacher seemed to avoid her. By the time class had ended, Derpy decided to invite her teacher to meet Dinky that coming weekend as well.
“Miss Dian?” Derpy called, everypony else already leaving for their next class.
“Oh, Derpy,” Dian chuckled sheepishly, “how are you today?”
“I’m very good, thank you for asking,” Derpy replied, noticing how her teacher still continued to avoid her gaze. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” the mare quickly replied, “you should quickly head to your next class Derpy, you wouldn't want to be late for... class?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I just wanted to ask you a quick question is all,” Derpy replied, feeling a bit awkward. “I was wondering if you and your daughter would like to hang out this weekend?”
“…”
“I was hoping for a chance for you to meet Dinky,” Derpy began to say, “ and I’m sure your daughter would like it to. By what I know, they’re friends in daycare.”
“…”
“Miss Dian?” Derpy stared at her teacher, who in turn continued to stare blankly at her in return.
“Okay…” Dian finally muttered, her eyes slightly glazed with confusion. “I guess if its for the foals, I’m ok with that.”
“Thank you Miss Dian, I know Dinky is going to love getting to see her friend this weekend,” Derpy said with a smile. She was already planning to keep the whole thing as a surprise for Dinky.
“Lets talk about this on Thursday, ok?” Dian sighed. “You really should head to your next class.”
“Oh, you're right! Sorry about that,” Derpy chuckled as she rushed towards the door. “Have a good day!”
As Derpy made her way towards the gym, she couldn't help but imagine the look on Dinky’s face when her friend surprised her with a visit.
“Hopefully this will make up for not being able to see her everyday at lunch anymore,” Derpy said to herself as she made her way into the gym.
“So, is it everything you thought it would be?” Carrot Top chuckled as she took a seat next to Derpy.
“Yep,” Derpy replied, her eyes fixed on the papers in front of her. “Another year of being cooped up in the corner, secluded from the rest of society.”
Stealing a quick glance, Derpy looked around the busy lunch room. Some ponies would walk in and head straight for their regular table, while others walked into the ever growing line for the school lunch. Derpy even noticed a few griffons and mules scattered throughout the room.
“And once again, we’re shoved into the corner,” Carrot Top sighed. Derpy merely shrugged as she returned her attention to her work. She knew that she and her friends were sitting alone in a secluded corner of the room, but that’s how it usually was.
“Hey, number twenty three’s B, right?” Derpy passed one of the papers she had towards Dilvent.
“Yep,” Dilvent replied as he placed a half eaten gem on the table and looked over what Derpy had. “You got seven, six, eleven, five, nine, and twenty wrong. Also,” he continued, snatching another paper from Derpy's collection. “Four, eleven, seventeen, and thirty two are wrong on this one too.”
“Damn,” Derpy huffed, taking her work back.
“Derpy, how are you this far behind in your work?” Minerva questioned, glancing at several pages Derpy still hadn't gotten to. “I mean, half of these were due last week?!”
“I know,” Derpy sighed, rubbing her temples with her hooves. “But I can't help it. After I get home, I dedicate all my time to Dinky, and by the time its time for her to go to bed, I’m beat. What little homework I have gotten done, I did after staying up an extra hour.”
“Then, I usually wake up an hour early to make sure Dinky is ready for daycare and that I have everything I’ll need for the day and…”
“Whoa, calm down,” Dilvent interrupted, stopping Derpy’s rant. “She didn't ask for a play by play.”
“I know,” Derpy sighed, slumping in her seat. “I’m just a little riled up is all. I’m worried about how Dinky is handling lunch without me.”
“I’m sure she’s fine Derpy,” Carrot Top responded, munching on a carrot. “What's the worst that could happen?”
(o^o)
“I miss mommy.” Dinky stared at the mashed peas and grape juice in front of her, missing her mother more and more.
“Where’s your mom?” Lily asked her friend. “Is she ok?”
“She couldn't make it today,” Miss Lemonway said as she sat down next to Dinky. “You really should eat Dinky, I don't think your mom would be happy if you didn't.”
“How come?” Lily asked, her foalish curiosity peaking.
“Because she’s busy with school, like your mother Lily,” the older mare replied, levitating a small spoon up to Dinky.
“Oh,” the young unicorn replied. Putting down her own food, Lily gave Dinky a hug. “Its ok Dinky, I know what its like.”
“Thank you.” Dinky returned the hug before she began eating her lunch.
(9_6)
“Yep, these all look good to me,” Minerva said as she put the last paper down. “A+ material.”
“Only because you had her re-do it several times,” Carrot Top snapped, apparently worn out by just watching. “This is homework, not a thesis paper!”
“Its okay,” Derpy sighed as she put her papers away in her bag. “It actually does help me in the long run.”
“See,” Minerva said, smugly smiling at Carrot Top. “Derpy understands the importance of good grades.”
“And you wouldn't let her stop until every answer was one hundred percent correct,” Dilvent sighed as he glanced out a nearby window. “But that’s why you’re the egghead of our group.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” Minerva said with a smile.
“I don't think he was complimenting you,” Carrot Top sighed as her head collided with the table.
“Excuse me,” a new voice called from close by.
As everyponies gaze shifted towards the voice, Derpy felt her anger begin to rise as she found Shooting Star standing just a few feet away, a tray of food on her back.
“I was wondering if..”
“What are you doing here?!” Derpy interrupted, clearly annoyed by the pegasus’ presence.
“I-I was kinda w-wondering if I could…” Shooting Star’s voice stuttered as Derpy’s stare caused her to take a few steps back. “I-I mean…”
“Could what?!” Derpy yelled, its intensity masked only by the conversations of everypony else in the room. “What could you possibly want from us?”
“I... I,” Shooting star began stuttering. Backing up even more, she had to swerve to miss a passing pony, causing her to hit a large pillar. “Oh buck,” she cursed under her breath, her food falling to the ground.
Several nearby groups quickly fell silent as they turned to look towards the commotion. But when they noticed who it was, they all went back to what they had been doing. Some stifling laughs as they shook their heads.
“Well?” Derpy continued, drawing the pegasus’ attention once again. “What do you want?”
For a moment, Shooting Star tried to hold a confident stance, trying her best to look Derpy in the eye. But as she continued to look into Derpy’s good eye, her gaze faltered and an expression of fear overtook her face as she ran out of the room.
Once again, several groups quickly looked over, some watching as Shooting Star disappeared from sight. Others began to laugh as they continued to look towards the door, making jokes with one another about what just occurred. But Derpy ignored them as she continued to stare at the door, trying to calm herself down.
“What’s her problem?” Derpy huffed, turning to look back at her friends. While Minerva continued to watch the door Shooting Star had just run out of, Carrot Top simply shrugged.
“Damn!” Dilvent snapped in a barely audible huff.
“What’s wrong?” Derpy asked, hoping for a change of subject.
“Nothing…” the stallion replied as he got up from his seat. “I just forgot something, I’ll be right back,” and with that, Dilvent rushed out of the lunch room.
“Where do you think he’s going?” Derpy asked, a small amount of anger clearly noticeable in her voice.
“Bathroom.”
“Class.”
Derpy stared at her two friends, annoyed by their differing answers. “If you don't know, it would've been better not to have said anything at all.”
A few minutes later, Dilvent returned, looking a little annoyed as he returned to his seat.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” He huffed mostly to himself.
“Where did you go?” Derpy asked, feeling like she already knew the answer.
“That way,” Dilvent said as he pointed back to the door, a smug smile forming on his face. “You see, there’s a hallway that leads to several class…”
“That’s not what I meant,” Derpy seethed, doing her best to keep herself calm. She knew that the stallion had run after Shooting Star and was lying about it. “Why are you lying to me? I thought we were friends!”
“But we are friends, Derpy,” Dilvent responded.
“Then why did you run after Shooting Star?! You know what she did, so why are you even talking to her?”
“Derpy, I…” Dilvent began, unable to find an answer to Derpy’s questions.
“Oh, a lovers spat,” Carrot Top chimed in. “I never figured you for the jealous type Derpy.”
For several moments, the table fell silent as Dilvent, Derpy and Minerva all looked at Carrot Top with blank expressions.
“Look, Dilvent,” Derpy sighed, completely ignoring Carrot Top’s statement. “I know I can't tell you what to do, but please stop talking to her. She helped put my daughter in danger, and I can't just forgive her for that.”
“Really, you're just going to ignore me?” Carrot Top tried to interject.
“I know that Derpy,” Dilvent replied, “and I don't expect you too, but you two were friends a long time ago and…”
“I mean seriously, I give you the perfect chance to change the subject and this is what I get?!” Carrot Top continued.
“And nothing!” Derpy snapped. “She was my friend, all the way up to the point she started making fun of me rather than defending me. But I was able to deal with that, but this… this is something completely different!”
Derpy sat for a moment, glaring angrily at her friend. She could see a conflicted look in his eyes and could tell that he was trying his best to figure out a solution to something.
“So have you decided what we’re going to do yet?” Minerva asked, attempting to change the subject.
“Well,” Derpy began, putting a hoof to her chin, “I originally planned meeting at my house and that we'd all figure out how to go on from there. But I think if we all meet at the park instead, It could be simpler.”
“Oh, so you’ll change the subject for her and not me?!” Carrot Top scoffed.
“Well, it would definitely save me a trip across the whole town,” Minerva chuckled.
For a moment, Derpy sat dumbstruck at what Minerva had said. By what she knew, the unicorn live just over a quarter of a mile away from her house, no where near as far as the other side of town. Derpy was about to ask why when the bell rang and ponies began to make their way out of the room.
“I guess I’ll just ask her later,” Derpy said to herself as she dawned her saddlebags and followed her friends toward their next class.
“Stop ignoring me!” Carrot Top yelled to deaf ears.
(o^o)
“So what happened with your mom?” High Lane questioned as he walked over to where Dinky and Lily played. “Why didn't she come today?”
“Mommy had very important work to do today!” Dinky stared at the colt, wishing he would just leave her alone, rather than bug her about her absent mother.
“Just leave her alone High Lane,” Lily replied in Dinky’s stead, “or I’ll tell Miss Lemonway that you're messing with Dinky again!”
“I’m just asking her a question!” High Lane quickly replied. “I’m merely concerned for her mom's well being. I mean, what if she was on her way here and got hurt?”
“Mommy’s hurt?” Dinky could already feel her eyes begin to water as worry began to cloud what she knew.
“Miss Lemonway, High Lane’s making Dinky cry!” Lily yelled as the older unicorn made her way over.
“I am not!” the young colt protested as the older mare scooped the youngest in her hooves.
“It’s ok, little one,” Lemonway whispered, slowly rocking Dinky. “There’s no need to cry.”
As Dinky’s nerves began to settle, Lemonway fixed the young colt with a stern glare. “What did you do?”
“I didn't do anything!” High Lane quickly shot back. “It’s not my fault she’s a crybaby.”
“He made it sound like Dinky’s mom got hurt on her way here,” Lily told Lemonway. “Even though he knows that her mom couldn't come today!”
“But I didn't mean to make her cry,” the colt said as he began to slouch, a mild look of annoyance crossing his face.
“I would hope so,” Lemonway said as her gaze softened. “But you still should've known better than to say something like that. Do I have to tell your father about this?”
“But that’s not fair!” the colt snapped, a mixed look of fear and anger on his face. “I didn't do anything wrong!”
“Then how about this,” Lemonway said as she looked down at the young foal in her hooves. “Do you think I should tell his father what he said?”
For a moment, Dinky thought about nodding her head yes. She really didn't like how High Lane had made her feel. For a few moments, she continued to look at the colt, thinking about what she should do.
“No.” Dinky shook her head and smiled up at Lemonway. “He may have said something mean, but that doesn't mean I should do the same.”
“Well then,” Lemonway smiled as she set Dinky back down next to Lily and giving High Lane her attention once again. “I’ll let you off with a warning this time, but I will tell your father if you do it again.”
“Yes Miss Lemonway,” High Lane huffed before he walked away, grumbling under his breath.
“Oh don't mind him,” Lemonway said, quickly trying to ease any tension that might have built in Dinky and Lily, “its just how colts are.”
“Ok,” Lily responded as she looked over at a different area of the room. “Hey Dinky, lets go play with those blocks!”
“Ok!” Dinky rushed to follow her friend.
(9_6)
“Thank you very much for telling me Miss Lemonway,” Derpy thanked. “While I’m not happy with what, High Lane said, I am happy to her that he was at least talked to.”
“I originally planned to tell his father, but Dinky decided that a simple talk was all it deserved,” the older mare replied with a chuckle.
“Well, thank you again,” Derpy said with a smile as she lifted Dinky onto her back, holding her steady with her wings. “See you tomorrow morning.”
“Have a good night you two,” Lemonway called as Derpy made her way towards the door, stopping in front of a waiting filly.
“Good night Dinky, Good night Dinky’s mom,” Lily said with a smile. “See you tomorrow Dinky.”
“Have a good night Lily,” Derpy replied, feeling her daughter wave from on top of her back. “Tell your mom I said hello.”
“I will,” Lily said with a smile as Derpy left the room.
The walk home was uneventful as Derpy told her daughter about her day and asked her about hers. She tried her best to ignore what she had been told by Lemonway, but she still didn't like knowing that her daughter was close to tears while she was at school.
The only solace she found was the fact that Dinky had decided not to get the colt in trouble with his father.
“Its hard to imagine that such a sweet and forgiving foal ever came from a monster,” Derpy whispered to herself as she finally made it home.
The rest of the week continued as normal, with the exception of Derpy staying at school for lunch instead of going to the daycare. Derpy had also made plans with Miss Dian and her daughter Lily to meet Dinky and her at the park that Saturday afternoon.
“Alright, so we’ll all meet up at the park entrance by noon then,” Minerva stated as she finished putting her books in her saddlebag.
“Yep.” Derpy nodded in agreement. “I should be done with my deliveries by then and we should already be in the area.”
“Deliveries?” Dilvent asked.
“Oh, I deliver packages on Saturday mornings to earn a few bits,” Derpy replied.
“I didn't know you still did deliveries?” Carrot Top said, looking a little betrayed.
“Well, I can't have my dad pay for everything,” Derpy began as she made her way out of the classroom.
“Besides,” she continued as she stood just outside the doorway, a small smile appearing on her face, “it was during one of my deliveries that I found Dinky.”
For a moment, Derpy stood motionless as the memories of that delivery replayed themselves in her mind. She couldn't help but shudder as images she wished she could forget resurfaced.
“Well, this just got awkward,” Dilvent said with a forced chuckle. “How about we just end the conversation here, huh?”
“Yeah…” Minerva sighed, moving past Derpy and giving her a caring smile. “So, tomorrow at noon, just outside the park, right?”
“Yeah,” Derpy sighed, taking a deep breath. “Sorry about that though.”
“Hey, like I said, end of conversation,” Dilvent said as he pushed passed the two. “Now if you don't mind me, I have things I gotta get done,” with that, Dilvent left the three mares on their own.
“Well, I better get going too,” Derpy said. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Bye,” Derpy’s friends called after her, waving as she disappeared around a corner.
“I can't wait for tomorrow,” Derpy said as she left the school, her spirits higher than what they had been a few minutes earlier. “Dinky’s just going to love my friends.”
“One last package, then we’re off to the park,” Derpy said as she looked back at the wagon. As usual, the wagons handle was securely attached to Derpy’s saddlebags, allowing her to pull it as she walked. Inside sat a small box and Dinky, a giant sun hat protecting her from the early afternoon sun.
“I hope you like my friends,” Derpy giggled as Dinky looked back at her with a smile. The young foal began bouncing up and down as Derpy trotted toward her last delivery for the day.
Derpy couldn't help but smile as she walked up to the door of a small two story house. Reaching back into the wagon, Derpy took a small clipboard that sat next to Dinky, reading off the last name and address.
“My Little Angel,” Derpy mumbled in disbelief. She was used to delivering packages and letters that didn't necessarily have the recipient's name, but that just meant she was extra cautious when delivering such packages.
“Ready, muffin?” Derpy asked. Dinky gurgled as she pushed the small box next to her forward.
“Okay,” Derpy chuckled as she knocked on the door. After a few moments of silence, she could hear a lock shift and the door open slowly.
“Yes, can I help… Derpy?”
“Oh, hello Miss Dian,” Derpy said, greeting her teacher with a smile. “I didn't know that this was where you lived.”
“Uh, well… yes it is,” Dian stuttered. “Me and Lily were just about to leave. What are you doing here?”
“I’m delivering a package to “My Little Angel“,” Derpy chuckled, turning around and picking up the small package from the wagon.
“Oh,” Dian said as she took the package in her magic. After looking at the tag for a moment, the unicorn chuckled softly.
“Its a package from my husband for our daughter,” Dian said as she levitated the package somewhere out of sight. “He always sends a gift when he can’t make it home for the weekend.”
“Does he work far away?” Derpy asked as she crossed off the last name on the clipboard.
“He’s a Royal Guard stationed in Canterlot,” Dian replied. “But he always finds the time to visit over the weekends.”
“And we always have fun!” a new voice chirped from inside the house. A few moments later, a small unicorn filly popped out from in between Dian’s legs.
“Hi, Dinky!” Lily chirped as she rushed over towards Dinky. “That’s a big hat!”
“Its so she doesn't get too hot under the sun,” Derpy chuckled.
“So, you must be Dinky,” Dian said, walking out from behind Derpy. “She has your eyes,” she continued, looking between the two.
“You're actually not the first pony to say that,” Derpy chuckled.
“Well, that’s to be expected,” Dian replied as she looked down at her daughter. “Lily, go make sure you have everything you’ll need for the day.”
“Mom!” Lily quickly said as she looked back at her mother. “Can Dinky and her mom come to the park with us?”
“We were actually going there right after this,” Derpy chuckled as she continued to look at her teacher. “I guess you didn't tell her either?”
(o^o)
“Park!?” Dinky began hopping up and down in the wagon. “Lily, we’re going to the park too!”
“We’re going to the park to spend the day with them,” Lily’s mom told her daughter. “Now go make sure you have everything you’ll need so we can go.”
“Don't go anywhere,” Lily told Dinky quickly. “I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll only be a moment,” Lily’s mom chuckled, following her daughter back inside the house.
“Mommy, they’re going to the park! We’re going to the park!” Dinky continued to bounce with increased intensity.
“I knew you’d be happy about this,” Derpy said as she gave Dinky a quick nuzzle. A few minutes later, both Lily and her mother returned, each wearing a set of saddlebags.
“Come on, lets go!” Lily proclaimed as she rushed off in a random direction.
“Lily, what did I say about running off without me?” Lily’s mother called.
“Sorry,” Lily said as she made her way back over to Dinky. “But I wanna go now so me and Dinky can play!”
“Play, play, play!” Dinky continued hopping with each repetition of the word in her head.
“Calm down muffin, or you’ll be too tired to play with your friend,” Derpy chuckled, nuzzling her daughter once again.
“But its going to be so much fun and I can't wait!” Dinky quickly moved to the side of the wagon and pointed in the direction of the park. “Lets go mommy, lets go!”
(9_6)
“Isn't that the direction of the park?” Dian asked Derpy as she looked at the direction Dinky was pointing.
“Generally,” Derpy began, walking in the direction Dinky had pointed. “Yes.”
“See mom, I told you Dinky was smart,” Lily said as she walked next to the wagon.
“I can see that,” Dian chuckled as she moved to walk next to her daughter.
The rest of the walk was followed by mostly silence. Only when Lily asked if she could ride in the wagon with Dinky did anypony speak. But once she was settled next to Dinky, the silence continued all the way up to the park entrance.
“Finally!” Carrot Top scuffed as Derpy and her group made it over towards two of her friends. “We’ve been waiting here forever!”
“Hi!” Lily called, interrupting Carrot Top. Working her way out of the wagon, she made her way over towards Carrot Top and Minerva. “I’m Lily, what's your names?”
“Hello Lily, I’m Minerva,” Minerva said as she leaned down to be level with Lily.
“And my names Golden Harvest, but everypony calls me Carrot Top,” Carrot Top added as she walked over towards Derpy. “Good morning!”
“You mean good afternoon, right?” Derpy giggled as Carrot Top moved to great Dinky. Looking around quickly, Derpy saw Lily talking with Minerva about something as Dian stood nearby. Behind her, Carrot Top stood, lightly tickling Dinky’s belly.
“Where’s Dilvent?” Derpy questioned.
“What do you mean?” Carrot Top said looking over towards Minerva. “He’s right over… there? Minerva, where’d Dilvent go?”
“What do you mean? He’s right…” Minerva’s voice trailed off as she looked behind her. “He was right here a minute ago?”
“Is there a problem?” Miss Dian asked, a concerned expression on her face.
“No,” Minerva chuckled as she made her way over to meet Dinky, “Dilvent probably wandered off somewhere.”
“Where do you think he went?” Derpy asked, “I thought he really wanted to meet Dinky?”
“Yeah, well, his loss then,” Carrot Top chuckled as she took Dinky out of the wagon and onto her back. “Come on everypony, he can come find us when he comes back from wherever he is.”
“Hold on, Carrot Top, I want to say hello first,” Minerva said, giving Dinky a warm smile.
“Hello there Dinky, my name’s Minerva.”
(o^o)
“Hello.” Dinky took a moment to stare at the unicorn that had introduced herself. She couldn't help but think that she looked pretty.
“You're just so cute!” Minerva giggled, taking Dinky off of Carrot Tops back and giving her a hug.
“Mommy’s friends sure are nice.” Dinky smiled as Minerva hugged her. She may not have known who the unicorn was, but the fact that her mother trusted her was good enough for Dinky.
“I’m cute too, right?” Lily asked, a small pleading look on her face.
“Of course you are sweetie,” Lily’s mom quickly said, scooping her daughter up and giving her a hug. Seeing this, Dinky began to fidget in Minerva’s hooves, trying to get to her own mother.
“I want mommy to give me a hug!”
As if in reply, Derpy took Dinky in her own hooves and gave her a nice warm hug. Dinky loved the way it felt being that close to Derpy. She could always smell the faint scent of freshly baked muffins in her fur while her calm heartbeat played through her ears.
(9_6)
“Here,” Minerva said, levitating Derpy’s bags off and placing them on herself. “I’ll carry these and Dinky can ride on your back.”
“Thanks,” Derpy said as she placed Dinky on her back. Looking back, Derpy couldn't help but chuckle at how confused Minerva looked. She had somehow tangled the strap that connected the wagon handle to her bags, and now the wagon was too close to walk properly.
“How do you walk around like this!?” Minerva snapped, as she worked to untangle the strap.
“By putting one hoof in front of the other, I guess,” Derpy giggled, as she helped untangle the strap. Taking a moment to look at it, Derpy couldn't help but wonder how she did walk around with it like she normally did.
Even with a long enough strap, the handle either continuously hit her flank, or the strap itself would rub against her back uncomfortably. But she wasn't going to complain in the slightest. She would rather feel uncomfortable than have Dinky cooped up in some harness or stuck sitting on her saddlebags strap.
“Guess I never noticed how uncomfortable it was,” Derpy chuckled as they all made their way into the park. “Still, I can't help but wonder where Dilvent went.”
(^.=.^)
“Apple or white grape?” Dilvent asked himself as he looked into the large cooler. For the fifth time, he opened it and pulled two bottles of juice out, only to quickly put them back. “Maybe pomegranate and orange?”
“I’m going to say this one more time,” a nearby store clerk began, shouting from behind the register. “If you're not going to buy one, stop opening the cooler!”
“Sorry!” Dilvent quickly said as he opened the cooler one last time and pulled out several drinks. Placing them in the basket he had in front of him, he continued towards a small snack aisle.
“Now the snacks,” Dilvent mumbled as he looked at all the cheap sugary snacks. He inspected each one for several moments before moving towards another. But after five minutes, he still hadn't picked anything.
“Gah!” Dilvent began, talking to himself. “What do I get?! If I get the wrong thing, Derpy might get mad and then Dinky won't like me and Minerva and Carrot Top will get mad and…”
“If you're going to talk to yourself, do it outside!” the clerk yelled.
“Sorry!” Dilvent said once again. Turning back, he spent another five minutes looking over the selection.
“But what do I get?” Dilvent asked himself again. “I know she said that she gave her muffins, but what about cookies, or brownies?”
Leaving the snacks, Dilvent went over towards a small fruits and veggie display. Without thinking, Dilvent placed several carrots into the basket. “Maybe they'd like something more healthy?”
“And maybe you”d like to buy something!” the clerk yelled.
“I’m almost done sir.” Dilvent quickly replied. Quickly tossing different things from the display into the basket before he went back to the snack aisle and tossing several treats into the basket.
“I am not getting into that argument again,” Dilvent said as he put back a generic muffin and headed for the counter.
“Got what you wanted?” the cashier asked, an obvious tone of annoyance in his voice.
“Uh, yeah,” Dilvent replied as he began to place things on the counter.
“Good,” the cashier said as they put everything into a single plastic bag. “fifteen bits.”
Without a reply, Dilvent paid and left the small shop, bag in mouth.
“There you are!” a voice called as Dilvent made his way down the street.
Turning around, Dilvent was caught off guard as a blue coated pegasus rushed up to him. A small device flashing on one of her legs.
“Shooting Star?!” Dilvent yelled, almost dropping the bag he had.
“Where were you?” she began, a look of worry in her face. “You said to wait, but then Derpy showed up with everypony and they went into the park. But you didn't come back and I got worried and…”
“Woah! Calm down Star,” Dilvent said, still in mild shock. “I was on my way back now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Really!?” Shooting Star said as she followed Dilvent down the street, not caring about the looks her outburst had drawn. “I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks, and you say I have nothing to worry about?!”
“And its going to keep going that way if you don't calm down,” Dilvent said as the park entrance came into view. “I said I would help you apologize, but your making it kinda hard to do that.”
“I know but…”
“Damn, I thought they would at least wait for me,” Dilvent interrupted as he looked around for his friends. “Hopefully they're not far,” he continued, heading into the park.
“Wait!” Shooting Star called. “Shouldn't we set up a plan or something? I mean, I doubt me just walking up will turn out that well.”
“First we find them,” Dilvent said, still walking forward. “Then you wait by some trees and think about what you're going to say. I’ll give the signal when I thinks she’s calm enough. Then, just calmly walk over.”
“Oh, okay,” Shooting Star responded, hesitating slightly as she followed the stallion.
“And don't go getting cold hooves this time! Losing your cool in front of the entire lunch room doesn't help your case in the slightest.” Dilvent finished as he lead the way towards the middle of the park.
(9_6)
“Ok, this spot looks good,” Derpy said as they all came to a nice open area. There was a large nearby tree that provided shade and the parks facilities weren't that far away. “Lets set up here.”
“Mom, can I go on the swing?” Lily called as she began running off on her own once again.
“Hold on Lily,” Dian replied, picking her daughter up in her magic and putting her down in front of her. “You came to play with Dinky, so lets take a moment and sit down. She and her mother have been out all morning.”
“Aww,” Lily sighed.
“How about this,” Carrot Top interjected. “I’ll bring Dinky over to the swings while Derpy takes a breather?”
“I don't mind as long as you don't Miss Dian,” Derpy said while she took Dinky off her back. She could already feel the stress on her body begin to take its toll.
“I don't mind at all, but could you take Lily with you? I wanted to check something,” Dian replied as she allowed Lily to rush toward Carrot Top.
“Sure,” Carrot Top smiled. “What about you Minerva?”
“I’m just going to wait here for now,” Minerva replied as she took off the bags and sat down next to Derpy. “I had to walk forever to get here.”
“Then its settled, let's go!” Carrot Top cheered as she took Dinky and put her on her back. “I’ll take the foals and you all can sit and rest for a bit."
“Ok,” the other three responded at once, watching as Carrot Top walked off with the two foals towards the swings.
“Why didn’t you go Miss Dian?” Minerva asked when Carrot Top was a good distance away.
“Oh, I actually wanted to talk to Derpy for a second without Lily around.” Looking towards Derpy, Dian continued, “I just wanted to clear up a few things if that’s alright.”
“Of course,” Derpy said with a smile as she sat down. She couldn't help but stretch out her muscles as she laid on her back.
“Well, I was actually wondering…” Dian began, hesitation easily noticeable in her voice. “Is Dinky… well, is Dinky yours?”
“Of course she’s mine,” Derpy chuckled without a second thought. “She’s my little muffin.”
“Oh my…” Dian mumbled. “So was she an accident or…”
“Miss Dian,” Minerva interrupted, forcefully chuckling. “Derpy didn't give birth to her, she’s her legal guardian.”
“Oh thank Celestia!” Dian said as she released a large breath. “Nothing against your choices Derpy, but I was actually worried some of the rumors I’ve heard were true.”
“It’s ok,” Derpy replied as she sat up on her hutches. “I haven't really been open with it to anypony besides my friends.”
“Yes, well…” Dian laughed. “I probably should've known better and just asked sooner.”
“Well,” a new voice interjected with a chuckle, “that one about the time traveler is amazingly believable.”
“Dilvent, there you are!” Minerva replied first as she looked back at the approaching stallion. “Where did you go?”
“I told Carrot Top I was going to go get some drinks and snacks,” Dilvent replied as he set a bag down next to the red wagon. “I’m guessing she forgot.”
“Yep,” Derpy chuckled as she waved a hoof.
“I take it this happens often,” Dian chuckled. “Good afternoon Dilvent.”
“Good afternoon Miss Dian, and yes, she does tend to forget things like that,” Dilvent continued as he took a seat and looked toward the swings. Derpy couldn't help but giggle at the goofy grin that slowly grew on his face.
“You can go over and say hi you know, nothing's stopping you,” Derpy chuckled.
“Oh no, I’m not messing this up,” Dilvent began, his gaze still directed towards the swings. “They can have their fun and when Carrot Top brings them back, then you can properly introduce me, that way nopony gets scared or runs off, or cries, or call for their parents, or the police, or the royal guard…”
“Dilvent, calm down!” Derpy quickly interjected, noticing Dilvent begin to shake and breath rapidly. “There’s no need for an anxiety attack.”
Dilvent looked at her with worry. “But what if they are scared?! I would feel terrible for scaring small foals”
“Now why would they be afraid of you? You seem to be a nice pony to me,” Miss Dian questioned.
(o^o)
Dinky couldn't help but giggle continuously as she swung back and forth thanks to Carrot Top. She would rather have her mother push her on the swing, but Carrot Top was her next best choice. Plus her friend was in the swing next to her, going only slightly higher than her with each pass.
“Miss Top, who’s that?” Lily asked as she looked over towards where her mother sat.
“Who’s that pony?” Dinky couldn't help but look at the strange pony sitting next to Derpy and Minerva. The thing that caught Dinky’s attention the most was the black jacket the pony wore. The only other pony she ever saw with cloths was her grandfather and that was only when he worked. “Is that pony working?”
“Oh, that’s our friend Dilvent,” Carrot Top replied. “you know, the pony we were talking about earlier.”
“Oh!” Lily chirped. “Why is he wearing that jacket? Its not even cold outside.”
“He always wears that thing,” Carrot Top chuckled, slowing down with her pushes. “He carries a bunch of things in the pockets, and if you embarrass him enough, he tucks his whole head in like a turtle.”
“I wanna see!” Dinky began hopping in her small foal swing, causing it to swing in odd directions.
“Can we go meet him?” Lily asked as her swing came to a stop.
“In a minute,” Carrot Top hesitantly replied as she looked over towards her friends. Looking for herself, Dinky couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about.
As the new pony talked to Lily’s mother, the unicorns face slowly changed from confusion and curiosity to a mild look of shock. Once the pony stopped talking, Lily’s mom sat motionless without changing her expression.
“Well,” Carrot Top began as she took Dinky and Lily out of the swings, “now’s probably the best time to go say hello.”
(9_6)
Derpy watched her teacher for a moment, allowing her to take in what Dilvent had shared.
“So.. so you're a… dragon pony?” Dian began to stammer.
“Yep, a hybrid as some would say” Dilvent said with a kind smile. “I’m actually surprised that you didn't know, I thought they told all the teachers when I first started school, but I guess you weren’t there.”
“No, you must have started soon after I left to give birth to Lily,” she continued, her expression softening slightly. “But still… well, you know. I mean, I didn't even know that something like that was possible. You'd think this would be something they'd tell you in at least one of the meetings.”
“Its ok, just take your time. You're actually taking it better than most other ponies.” Dilvent continued to smile kindly.
Before anything else could be said, Lily rushed up to Dilvent with a smile and said, “Hi there, I’m Lily!”
“H-hi, Lily,” Dilvent began, quickly covering his mouth with one of his forelegs. Before continuing, Dilvent’s eyes flashed towards Dian, who merely looked back with a slight stern, yet worried look. “My n-names Dilvent, i-its a pleasure to meet you!”
Lily smiled in return before she rushed over towards her mother.
“Where have you been?” Carrot Top huffed as she walked up. “You disappeared just as everypony showed up!”
Dilvent stood silently for several moments before he finally spoke, “I went to the store to get drinks and snacks for everypony, I told you that!” Dilvent continued to keep his mouth covered from view as his gaze shifted to the small foal on Carrot Top’s back.
“Dilvent, why are you covering your mouth?” Minerva asked.
“Like I said, I don't want to scare the foals,” Dilvent replied. “How would you feel if you walked up to a pony you didn't know and saw a mouth full of razor sharp teeth?!”
“I’d freak out and call for help,” Carrot Top said nonchalantly. “But then again, you can only tell that you have them when you smile,” Carrot Top pointed out, “and don't go off with your whole snaggletooth thing because they’re barely noticeable in the first place and you can just play yourself off as a bat pony or something.”
“Snaggle-what?” Lily asked.
“Snaggletooth, its when you have teeth that are irregularly shaped or project out,” Minerva replied.
“Project?” Lily said, her face scrunching in confusion.
“I have teeth that stick out of my mouth,” Dilvent stated, he gaze once again shifting towards the oldest unicorn before continuing. “There’s nothing wrong with them, its just how they are.”
“Then why are you hiding them?” Derpy chuckled as she took a bouncing Dinky from Carrot Top. “If there’s nothing wrong with them, then you shouldn't need to hide them. I thought you knew that by now?”
“Yes, well,” Dilvent began as he hesitantly put his hoof down. “I’ve had enough experience to at least cover them up at first.”
(o^o)
Dinky stared at the stallion for a moment. Now that she was closer, she could see that he was bigger than everypony else. She also noticed a thin pair of glasses hanging on his snout.
“There, my hoof’s down, happy?” the stallion asked.
“Wow!” Lily exclaimed. “Are those your snaggle-whatchamacallits?”
“His what?” Dinky tried looking for what her friend was talking about but all she could see was a jacket, glasses and two pointy teeth. But other than that, he looked like a normal pony.
“Can I just say hello to Dinky now?” Dilvent asked, looking directly at Derpy and Dinky with a hopeful smile.
“Hello,” Dinky waved with a smile.
(9_6)
“So… cute,” Dilvent whispered, watching as Dinky waved at him.
“Dilvent, Dinky,” Derpy began introducing. “Dinky, Dilvent.”
Derpy couldn't help but giggle at the goofy little grin Dilvent had as he looked at her daughter.
“Can I hold her?” Dilvent hesitantly asked moving closer slowly.
“Derpy, I wou…" Dian began before Derpy interrupted.
“Of course,” Derpy said as she let Dilvent take hold of Dinky in his forelegs. For several moments, they stared at one another. Derpy watched as her daughter felt the sleeves of Dilvent’s jacket as the stallion continued to stare at the foal.
“So cute,” Dilvent mumbled so softly, almost nopony heard him.
“Are you ok?” Carrot Top chuckled.
“Uh,” Dilvent began as he looked off towards the distant tree line. “Yeah, I just don't get to see many foals.”
“Oh,” Carrot Top said as she began looking for whatever it was Dilvent was looking for.
After a few moments, an annoyed expression appeared on the stallions face as he hesitantly handed Dinky back to Derpy and headed for the tree line.
“Hey, where are you going?!” Derpy called. But Dilvent ignored her as he disappeared behind a set of trees.
“Thank Celestia,” Dian sighed as Dilvent disappeared. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”
“Miss Dian?!” the three older mares exclaimed.
“Well I’m sorry, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little afraid of him now,” Dian replied as she pulled her daughter in close.
“You're afraid of Dilvent, why?” Lily asked her mother.
“I’ll tell you when your older,” Dian replied. Looking back at Derpy, “So how did you come to be Dinky’s guardian?”
“I’m sorry, but its something I don't like talking about,” Derpy said, still a little annoyed by her teachers reaction towards her friend.
“Oh,” Dian mumbled. “So, how long have you had her?”
“Somewhere between three to four months I think,” Carrot Top tried to answer for Derpy, although it was apparent that their teachers comment had also gotten to her..
“Three months today,” Derpy stated matter of factly.
“Well that’s… nice,” Dian said as she looked down at her daughter. For a moment she sat there, saying nothing.
“Please don't take this the wrong way Derpy,” Dian began. “But I think you taking care of a foal is a very bad idea and can't help but think that who ever allowed it in the first place is a idiot.”
Several moments of silence followed Dian’s statement before anypony said anything.
“Yeah, my dad never was that smart,” Derpy said as she began laughing. Shortly after, everypony else was laughing, excluding the two foals.
“Mom, I’m hungry,” Lily chimed in, ending the laughs. “Can I have my snack now?”
“Of course,” Dian replied as she walked over towards the wagon and all the bags. Looking in the smallest one, she pulled out a small sandwich. “Lily, where’s the juice I put in here?”
“I took it out so I could fit my chalk,” Lily replied with an innocent smile.
“Well, then all you're going to have to drink is water,” Dian told her daughter as she reached into her own bag and pulled out a bottle of water.
“But can't I have one of these?” Lily asked as she looked into the plastic bag and pulled out an apple juice. “Mr. Dilvent said he got these for everypony.”
“What did he get anyways?” Carrot Top asked as she scooped up the bag, shoving her head into it. She quickly popped back out with several carrots in her mouth. “What do ya know, he’s not as useless as I thought.”
(^.=.^)
“That was your cue,” Dilvent told the pegasus in front of him. “Why didn't you come out?”
“I-I panicked and I just couldn't do it,” Shooting Star responded. “You don’t understand how hard this is. Besides, all you did was stare at the tree line, how was I supposed to know that that was the signal?”
“Your right,” Dilvent began, putting on a false smile. “I don't know how hard it is to apologize for nearly getting a mare and foal killed by a psychopath. But then again I’ve never been in that situation and I never will!”
Shooting Star stepped back as she felt the intensity of Dilvent’s statement. She stared at the ground for several moments before continuing. “I know I fucked up, but I’m doing what I can to make up for it!”
Dilvent’s sudden laughs quickly caught Shooting Star’s attention. “Doing all you can?! Please, I’ve done more to apologize to ponies when all I did was say hello. What have you done?”
“Well… I’ve been checking in and doing my community service at the shelter and…”
“And that’s all things you were told to do!” Dilvent interrupted. “Yes, doing that is helping in its own way, but its not helping you!”
“But then what do I do?” Shooting Star pleaded.
“Well for starters you could let me actually talk to Derpy about how you’ve been feeling. I could probably get her to willingly listen to what you have to…”
“NO!” Shooting Star quickly shot. “I appreciate all the help you’ve already given me, but I want to be the one to talk to her. I don't want her feeling sorry for me, I already look weak in her eyes.”
“Trying to hold on to that small amount of pride isn't going to help in any way,” Dilvent said with a blank expression. “So what are you going to do?”
Shooting Star stood staring at Dilvent for several moments as worry crossed her face.
“Well?” Dilvent asked when Shooting Star had continued to remain silent.
“I’m going,” she huffed as she pushed past Dilvent and headed out from behind the trees.
“I really hope this doesn't end badly,” Dilvent said to himself as he turned and followed Shooting Star. “But as long as Dinky’s around, Derpy should remain calm.”
“Because they are a rich source of nutrients that can promote better health and possibly prevent a number of serious medical problems!” Carrot Top snapped.
“Yes I know that, but I was just trying to say that eating them for every meal of the day doesn't necessarily add to its value,” Dian replied calmly. “Then again, I believe I just figured out why your so… orange.”
“Did you just insult me?” Carrot Top questioned, looking back towards Derpy and Minerva. “I think she just insulted me! Where I come from, those are fighting words!”
Derpy and Minerva could barely contain their laughter as they clung to one another for support.
“Carrot...Carrot Top!” Minerva wheezed through her laughs. “You do realize you're getting into a health argument with a “health teacher“, right?”
“I’m not arguing with her,” Dian quickly replied, a small playful grin on her face. “I’m merely pointing out that her diet of mostly carrot based products isn't as healthy as she believes. Plus my father is a dietitian who taught me everything he knows.”
“I don’t just eat carrots,” Carrot Top responded as she held her head high. “I eat a healthy assortment of fruits and vegetables.”
“With a side of carrots,” Derpy added through her laughs.
“And I thought we were… friends…” Carrot Top began to reply as her eyes drifted past Derpy.
“Derpy!” a all too familiar voice yelled from behind. Derpy could already feel her anger begin to rise as she turned to look behind herself.
“I need to talk to you!” Shooting Star just about shouted from a distance.
“Then by all means, keep yelling at her,” Dilvent huffed as he pushed past the pegasus and up to his friends. “So what I miss?”
For several moments, nopony spoke. Even Dian and Lily kept their silence as an uncomfortable feeling filled the air.
“What are you doing here?” Derpy finally snapped, pulling Dinky in closer to her chest.
“Well you see I…”
“How did you even know we would be here?” Derpy interrupted. She tried to keep her calm so as not to startle Dinky, but she knew she wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
“Well, Dilvent told me and…”
“You told her where we were?!” Derpy once again interrupted, shooting a glare at the stallion.
“You ate all the snacks!” Dilvent said, oblivious to Derpy’s question. “I was hoping you would have left me something,” he pouted.
“I’m talking to you!” Derpy said louder than she intended. Looking down to make sure she hadn’t scared Dinky, Derpy was shocked to see her looking up at her with mild confusion.
(o^o)
“Why are you so angry mommy?” Dinky stared up at her mother in mild confusion. Then at the pony that had just showed up. She remembered seeing her somewhere before, but couldn't remember.
“Derpy, can I please talk to you?” the pony asked, a pleading look in her eyes.
“How about no!” Derpy replied in a huff.
Dinky looked back at her mother and cringed slightly. She didn't like seeing her angry and began to wonder what the pony had done to get her that way.
(9_6)
“You're scaring my daughter,” Derpy continued, noticing Dinky twitch slightly in her grasp.
“Derpy, please,” Shooting Star began to beg. “I just want to apologize to the both of you for what I did!”
“There is nothing you can say or do to make up for what you did,” Derpy seethed as she stared angrily at Shooting Star. “If it were up to me, you’d be rotting in jail right now.”
“Derpy, please,” Shooting Star begged once again. “I feel horrible for what I did…”
“And you should!” Derpy nearly yelled. “You put the two of us in danger!”
“If anypony needs us, me and Lily will be at the sandbox,” Dian nervously chuckled as she levitated her daughter onto her back and rushed off. But Derpy never noticed them leave as she kept her eye fixed on Shooting Star, making sure she wasn't out of sight for even a fraction of a moment.
“Derpy, maybe you should listen to what she has to say,” Dilvent began. “I know your not happy with her but…”
“I’ll handle you later!” Derpy shot back without looking. “But right now I want her to leave.”
“I’ll go, but just let me apologize first,” Shooting Star tried to beg.
“No!” Derpy yelled, barely noticing Dinky flinch from its intensity. “You don't even deserve the chance after everything you've done!”
(o^o)
“Please stop yelling mommy, you're scaring me.” Dinky pressed her face into her mother's chest. The once calm and smooth heartbeat she was accustomed to hearing was now rapid. “I don’t know what she did, but it sounds like she’s really sorry.”
“Derpy, maybe you should calm down,” Carrot Top said as she began to rub the top of Dinky’s head. “You're scaring Dinky.”
“No, she’s scared because she remembers what Shooting Star did to her!” Derpy replied.
“Please make mommy stop.” Dinky looked up at Carrot Top as she felt her eyes begin to water.
(9_6)
“Then at least let me take Dinky over to the sandbox so you can yell at Shooting Star all you want?” Carrot Top huffed.
“Fine,” Derpy snapped as she allowed Carrot Top to take Dinky from her.
“We’ll just be over there if anypony needs us,” Carrot Top hesitantly said before she walked off towards the sandbox with Dinky on her back.
“Derpy,” Shooting Star began again once Carrot Top was out of hearing distance. “I’m sorry for what I did to the both of you and I want to properly apologize.”
Derpy remained silent as she stood up and made her way over to Shooting Star, a mixed look of anger and determination visible on her face.
“I’m going to tell you one more time,” Derpy began, pushing her face close to Shooting Star’s as she bared her teeth in a scowl. “Leave!”
(o^o)
Even from the distance Carrot Top had brought her, Dinky heard her mother yell at the pony to leave. It scared her hearing just how angry her mother was at a pony who looked as if she just wanted to apologize.
“Why does mommy have to yell like that?” Dinky could still feel her tears as Carrot Top began to nuzzle her softly.
“It’s ok Dinky, Derpy’s just afraid of you getting hurt again,” Carrot Top tried to explain.
“Do you mind if I ask what’s going on?” Lily’s mother asked from nearby.
“I’m sorry Miss Dian, but its not my place to say,” Carrot Top replied. “But I do hope she at least calms down soon. What was Dilvent thinking bringing Shooting Star here when Derpy was with Dinky?”
“He probably thought she would act calmer than this,” Dian replied calmly.
“What do you mean?” Carrot Top asked.
“Well, I know if I was really mad at somepony, I’d try to keep my calm if Lily were there,” Dian began, carefully wiping some of Dinky’s tears off her cheek. “Dilvent probably thought that if Dinky was there, Derpy wouldn’t react in such a… threatening manner.”
“I guess that kind of makes sense,” Carrot Top sighed.
Once again, Dinky felt the tears roll down her face as she tried to understand what was said. “Even though I was there, mommy was still too angry at that pony to care?”
“Don’t cry Dinky,” Lily said as she made her way over to comfort her friend. “She just wants you to be safe.”
“Carrot Top, could you watch Lily as well for a second?” Dian asked.
“Sure, but why?” Carrot Top asked as Lily’s mother began to walk back towards the commotion.
“Because somepony needs to stop this petty squabbling before a fight breaks out,” Dian replied as she continued forward.
(9_6)
“Derpy…” Shooting Star began for the eighth time.
“I said no!” Derpy interrupted. “Why can’t you get that through your head already, I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter! If I have to tell you one more time to leave, I will find the police and have you arrested!”
“Derpy, please!” Shooting Star begged, tears in her eyes.
“I believe that’s enough of that!” Dian snapped as a magical force began pulling Derpy away from Shooting Star.
“Miss Dian, what are you…” Derpy began before Dian interrupted her.
“I’m ending a petty squabble before it escalates to a point even I wouldn’t be able to stop,” Dian responded. “I don’t know what occurred to cause such hostilities between you two, but it better end soon,” Dian continued as she kept her eyes locked onto Derpy.
“But she…” Derpy tried to say before she was interrupted once again.
“Save it for the school counselor,” Dian quickly told her. “Because I’m going to be talking with them later to set up an appointment to help settle this once and for all!”
“And if I don’t want to?” Derpy questioned.
“Then that,” Dian pointed a hoof towards the sandbox, “will continue to happen!”
Looking towards the sandbox, Derpy’s heart sank. Even from the distance, Derpy could see Dinky crying as both Lily and Carrot Top tried to comfort her.
“But she…” Derpy began as she looked back at Shooting Star. It was only then that she noticed the mare crying as she shook in fear.
“Exactly,” Dian began as she noticed Derpy’s look of self-loathing. Turning towards Shooting Star, “Miss Star, you can go now. I’ll let you know when the appointment is with the councilor.”
“Y…yes Miss Dian,” Shooting Star chirped. Shooting one quick concerned glance at Dilvent, Shooting Star turned and rushed off.
“Now,” Dian continued as she looked back at Derpy. “You are going to go apologize to your daughter for scaring her and we are going to continue the rest of today as if that little incident never happened, understand?”
“Yes, Miss Dian,” Derpy sighed as she began to walk towards the sandbox. But just as she was passing Dilvent, she stopped. “Don’t think I’ll forget what you did Dilvent,” she snapped as she shot him a glare.
Dilvent merely shrunk back into his jacket as a mixed look crossed his face.
(o^o)
Dinky watched with tears still in her eyes as her mother slowly made her way over towards the sandbox, frowning as she stared at the ground.
“You're not angry anymore, are you mommy?” Dinky put on a hopeful smile as Derpy stood in front of her.
“I’m sorry muffin, I didn’t mean to scare you like that,” Derpy apologized as she softly nuzzled the side of Dinky’s face. “I was just so mad at her that I didn't know I was the one that was scaring you. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Its ok mommy, I know you just want me to be safe.” Dinky wrapped her hooves around Derpy’s neck as she hugged her mother tightly, happy that she wasn't yelling anymore.
(9_6)
“So,” Carrot Top began, “now that that very awkward encounter with Shooting Star is over, can we actually do something?”
“How about we make sandcastles!” Lily chirped as her mother and Minerva arrived.
“That sounds like fun,” Derpy said, looking back towards the bags. Only Dilvent stayed by the bags, whether it was because he wanted to keep an eye on them or was to ashamed, Derpy didn't really care at the moment.
"He was just trying to help in his own weird kind of way," Minerva said as she caught Derpy’s attention.
Derpy shook her head. “I don’t care what he was trying to do. He knows how much I hate her and not only led her to me, but did it when Dinky was there.”
“I know I may have over reacted back there, but it doesn't excuse the fact that he betrayed my trust.” Derpy continued to watch Dilvent sulk, dreading the fact that she had to go over there to get Dinky’s bucket and shovel.
“I’ll be right back,” Derpy mumbled as she walked back towards the bags. Dilvent continued to sit where he was, quietly mumbling to himself, as Derpy reached into her bags and pulled out a small plastic bucket and shovel.
“You don’t have to sulk over here you know,” Derpy said as she paused in front of the stallion for a moment. “Put the bags into the wagon and pull it over to the sandbox.”
“Right!” Dilvent snapped a little too loudly as he began putting everything into the red wagon. Within moments, he was rushing towards the sandbox with Derpy not that far behind.
“So you forgave him?” Minerva asked as the two of them walked up.
“No,” Derpy replied with a blank expression. “But this is better then having him sulk out in the open.”
“I wasn't sulking… I was…” Dilvent began only to lose himself in his quiet mumbles.
“How about we forget everything that just happened and enjoy the rest of today?” Carrot Top asked as she took the bucket and shovel from Derpy.
“I like that idea!” Dilvent blurted out with a look of hopefulness. For several moments, Derpy watched as Dilvent continued to shift from worry to hopefulness and then back again several times.
“For now…” Derpy grumbled, taking a seat next to Dinky, “and Carrot Top, give back that pail and shovel.”
“But I’m not done with the irrigation system yet,” Carrot Top whined as she sat by several small mounds of sand formed in parallel lines.
“You can't actually expect to grow something in a sandbox?” Dian questioned from her position next to Lily.
“No, but this is a great chance to teach Dinky what auntie Carrot does back home,” Carrot Top chimed with a smile.
“Auntie Carrot...?” Derpy began as she looked at her friend with a blank expression.
“It’s only right,” Carrot Top said with a smile while she flattened out her sand mounds. “Every pony needs a aunt and or uncle who spoils them silly with candy, toys, and the occasional foal-napping to amusement parks.”
“Carrot Top,” Derpy began, a smile slowly forming on her face. “If I ever find out you took Dinky anywhere without my permission, your flank isn't the only place the police are going to find carrots.”
For several seconds, nopony spoke as the only sound came from the two playing foals.
“Tartarus hath no fury like a mothers scorn,” Minerva forcefully chuckled, breaking the silence.
(o^o)
“But I’m… not tired… yet.” Dinky let out a small yawn as her mother set her gently in the wagon, snuggling up in the soft blanket that it held. Only after three hours of constant fun, did Dinky finally feel exhaustion begin to take hold.
“Play…” Dinky lifted her head and watched her mother put her bags back on.
“Go to sleep muffin, you had a long day,” Derpy softly said, giving Dinky a quick nuzzle.
“Bye Dinky,” Lily called from her mothers back with a yawn. “See you Monday.”
“Bye Lily…” Dinky laid her head back down and fell into a deep sleep.
(9_6)
“Isnt that adorable,” Minerva cooed, looking down at Dinky as she fell asleep.
“Yeah,” Derpy said with a smile.
“Well,” Dian began, drawing everyponies attention. “Excluding that little outburst, today has actually been very nice.”
“Outburst is putting it lightly,” Carrot Top grumbled. “Can we go now? I want to get this ice cream out of my mane.”
“Hey, I said I was sorry,” Dilvent happily chuckled. But as Derpy shot him a glare, he quickly fell silent and stared at the ground.
“Anyways,” Dian began once again. “I’ll get with the counselor tomorrow and have her set up something so you and Shooting Star can settle this little spat of yours, okay?”
“Hurray…” Derpy grumbled as she turned to leave.
“Bye,” all the others called as Derpy began to walk down the semi busy street. Once she was two blocks away, the sound of rapidly approaching hoof beats caught her attention.
“Derpy!” Dilvent called as he quickly rushed up next to her.
“Could you please not yell, Dinky is napping,” Derpy scolded.
“Oh, sorry,” Dilvent quickly replied. “Look, I just wanted to…”
“What, find out my schedule for tomorrow?” Derpy interrupted. She could feel her anger building up once again and didn't want to have another outburst.
“Wait, I was just…” Dilvent tried to start again as Derpy picked up her pace.
“I said we’d handle that some other time,” Derpy interrupted again. “I understand you were just doing… whatever it is you do, but I’m still mad at you right now.”
“Okay,” Dilvent stuttered, stopping in his tracks. Derpy didn't bother stopping as she continued down the street. Within minutes, she was back home, laying Dinky softly in her own bed.
“So how was your day?” A gruff voice asked from the doorway of Derpy’s room.
“It had a rough start, but it got better and Dinky had a great day,” Derpy replied, walking out of the room to let Dinky sleep a little longer.
“Rough start?” Mr. Hooves questioned as he followed his daughter to the kitchen.
“Shooting Star showed up, and well, you can guess what happened,” Derpy grumbled as she looked through the cupboards.
“I can arrest her if you want,” Derpy’s father replied with a chuckle. “Did she come within twenty feet of Dinky, or did she physically do anything?”
Derpy felt a sudden urge to say yes, a growing desire to finally get Shooting Star arrested and put in jail. But as she thought, she decided that it would be a lie. “No, she kept her distance and didn't touch anypony.”
“Than what did she want?” Derpy’s father asked as he snatched a box of crackers from Derpy’s hooves.
“To apologize!” Derpy snapped as she took the box back and put it away. “And you can guess how that went.”
“Well, putting in the factors that you're my daughter, a reasonable mare, and I raised you right… you forgave her and spent the afternoon catching up.”
“...no” Derpy grumbled, her head sinking low. “I ended up yelling at her and not only scaring Dinky, but put both of them in tears.”
“Oh… well, that’s problematic,” Derpy’s father replied with a frown.
“Miss Dian ended up separating us and said that she’s going to set something up with the school counselor,” Derpy continued, groaning as she took a seat at the table.
“Smart move by her,” Derpy’s father said with a slightly concerned tone.
“What do you mean?” Derpy asked, a tone of worry in her voice.
“By the looks of it, this whole thing between you and Shooting Star could be a problem,” Derpy’s father began. “I've seen things like this turn violent and if you make any mistakes before Dinky’s fully adopted… there’s a chance that they would take Dinky out of your care.”
“Oh… I didn't think of that,” Derpy said as her ears dropped. “So, should I forgive her?”
“I’m not saying that,” Derpy’s father replied with a blank expression. “But it would help. But then again, I'll let the school counselor help with that. Its what they're trained to do and it probably won't be put on any records.”
“I guess…” Derpy grumbled, already dreading that meeting.
“Good, now how about I get started on dinner then?” Derpy’s father asked with a genuine smile.
“Okay,” Derpy said as she made her way out of the room. But just as she was about to leave, her father asked one last question.
“How did Shooting Star know where to find you in the first place?”
“You really slept all day yesterday?” Derpy asked, softly chuckling.
“How could I not?” Carrot Top sighed. “Its days like that that make me miss working on the farm more and more.”
“I guess I can understand that, Derpy chuckled as their homeroom came into view, only to stop several doors down.
Just outside the room, Dilvent stood casually talking to Shooting Star. For several moments, Derpy watched as the two continued to speak to one another.
“Get over it already,” Carrot Top huffed as she walked past Derpy. “Good morning Dilvent.”
“Hello,” Dilvent called back. Before another word could be said, Shooting Star rushed into the classroom.
“Good morning,” Derpy grumbled once she finally found her voice.
“Good morning Derp…” Dilvent began until Derpy pushed past him into the room.
“Looks like somepony’s muffins burnt in the oven,” Dilvent grumbled as he followed behind.
“So,” Derpy began once she reached her desk. “What were you two talking about?”
“Oh, Shooting Star wanted me to tell you to be at the counselor's office once lunch period starts,” Dilvent almost mumbled. “Also,” he continued looking over at Carrot Top, “they want me, you and Minerva to meet at the office during fourth period.”
“Why?” Carrot Top asked as she took her seat and looked around. “And where is Minerva, usually she’s the first one here?”
“I guess she just wants to ask us some things beforehand,” Dilvent replied as he stole a glance back at Shooting Star. “And I’m sure Minerva will be here at any moment. You know her, she’s not one to miss a single day. Remember how I had to drag her home when she had that bad cold last year.”
“I still can't help but wonder how she got to school in the first place?” Carrot Top wondered.
“Because her dad brought her, remember?” Derpy replied with a huff, giving Dilvent an annoyed glare.
“Are you still mad?” Dilvent responded as he took a seat. “Look, I said I was sorry okay! I honestly thought it would help.”
“Sweet mother of Celestia, can we please stop talking about that!” Carrot Top groaned as she began rubbing her temples with her hooves.
“Sorry, but you can't expect me to not still be at least a little bit mad,” Derpy replied. Just then, the bell rang and ponies began to make their way into the room, as well as a frantic looking unicorn.
“Oh thank Celestia,” Minerva wheezed as she made her way over to her desk. “I was afraid I would be late.”
“Too homeroom?” Carrot Top questioned with a chuckle.
“Yes, well…”
“Wow Minerva, what happened to you?” Derpy interrupted. The mare’s hair was a mess and dark circles could be seen clearly under her eyes. Her eyes themselves also had a slight haze to them.
“Had a long night, that’s all,” Minerva chuckled, straightening her mane with a hoof. Derpy was about to respond, but was cut off when the teacher began role call. She couldn't help but feel that her friend was hiding something, but a quick glance at Shooting Star changed her thoughts.
For the entire morning, Derpy dreaded the up and coming counseling appointment. She couldn't understand why everypony was against her. Shooting Star was not only a bully, but had put both her and Dinky’s life in danger.
For a moment, she believed that everypony trusted Shooting Star more than her. But she quickly pushed those thoughts out of her head.
“Well, we'll see you later Derpy,” Carrot Top said, catching Derpy’s attention.
“What?” Derpy almost stuttered. “Where are you going?”
“We’re going to see the counselor, remember?” Minerva replied, her mane now in a more manageable shape than it had been that morning. “Be sure to take extra notes for me, okay?”
“…right,” Derpy mumbled as she watched her friends turn and leave.
“Just one period left,” Derpy grumbled as she made her way to her next class. “It’s going to be a long day.”
(Carrot)
“So,” Carrot Top began as the small group headed through the halls, “What do all of you think about how Derpy’s been acting towards Shooting Star?”
“I think its a little stupid,” Dilvent replied as he continued walking down the hallway. “Not undeserving, but definitely a little stupid.”
“I don't know,” Minerva began her reply. “I mean, I understand that Derpy’s angry at her. I even agree that Shooting Star should be in jail. But her immediate anger, and the fact that she won't even talk to her or let her apologize does worry me. What about you?”
Carrot Top hesitated with her answer. In all truths, even she didn't know what to think. “Well, Derpy is my friend and I don't like seeing her get angry like that, but…”
“But what?” Minerva asked as the group reached the office. “She put another mare in tears and scared her own foal, what’s there to be confused about?”
“That’s not it!” Carrot Top quickly responded. “Its the way everypony else is going about this. Your all kind of making it sound like, Shooting Star is completely innocent, when she was a big part in everything that happened.”
“Nopony is taking her side in this,” Minerva replied. “I’m behind, Derpy one hundred percent.”
“And you?” Carrot Top asked, raising a questioning brow towards Dilvent.
“What do you mean by that?!” Dilvent responded, visibly taking the comment as an insult. “Shooting Star simply asked me for help. That doesn't mean I’m on her side!”
Suddenly, Dilvent’s expression of slight anger and annoyance faltered and changed to one of worry and fear. “It doesn't look like I'm taking Shooting Star’s side… does it? I mean, I just wanted to help her because she seemed desperate and asked… I mean, I know Derpy doesn't really like her, but I’m only trying to help her, you know?”
“Yes, we know,” Carrot Top sighed as the group entered the office. “Why else do you think we keep you around?”
"I don't know…” Dilvent said, obviously becoming even more confused. “Why do you?”
Both Carrot Top and Minerva had trouble containing their giggles as Dilvent sat on his haunches and began to think to himself.
“Its good to see you all came in high spirits,” a soft voice chuckled, ending the laughing. Turning, Carrot Top wasn't surprised to see the school counselor, a earth pony mare with a black mane and tail and light tan coat, standing in the middle of the room.
The room itself looked exactly as Carrot Top expected it to. The walls were covered in motivational posters and education graphs. On one side of the room was a large desk with one large chair behind it and two smaller ones in front. On the other side of the room were several bookcases with an assortment of binders, books, and board games mixed between them. The last thing in the room was a large table where several different folders and files were stacked on the far side.
“So what did you want to talk to us about?” Minerva asked as she lead the way towards the table.
“Well, Miss Dian told me about what happened between, Miss Hooves and, Miss Star this weekend,” the mare began, sitting down at the table and folding her forelegs professionally in front of her. “And since all of you were not only there, but you’re Miss Hooves friends, I was hoping to get some little tidbits of information so I can better understand the situation.”
“Sorry Miss E, but if its about why Derpy is so mad at Shooting Star, then its not really our place to say.” Carrot Top replied.
“Oh no, I already know everything I need to about that,” Miss E began. “And please, just call me Essa. Miss E just makes me sound old.”
“Well, you are a counselor, so aren't you already…” Dilvent began, only to stop when Minerva launched a large book into the back of his head.
“As I was saying,” Essa continued, obviously ignoring what just happened. “I already know enough about the current situation, I was just hoping to get a little more information on the kind of pony Miss Hooves is.”
“Oh,” the other three said in unison.
“Well I can tell you everything you want in that case,” Carrot Top replied proudly. “I am her best friend after all.”
“And here we go once again,” Dilvent sighed, flailing his front hooves in the air. “You know what… I’m not even going to bother arguing with her about that again…”
“Just so we don't spend the next three hours here, I’m going to follow Dilvent on this one,” Minerva sighed as well.
“Ok,” Essa chuckled, a mild look of confusion on her face. “So, Miss Harvest, is the way Miss Hooves acted on Saturday something you’d expect from her?”
“No,” Carrot Top replied without a second thought. “I mean, I knew she was angry at her, I mean, who wouldn't be? But, Derpy’s the last pony I’d expect to get that angry at somepony.”
“Would you mind explaining why?” Essa asked.
“Of course,” Carrot Top replied with a smile. “It all started when I first came here for high school…”
(9_6)
Derpy watched the wall clock as best as her good eye would let her. Part of her, annoyed by how long the morning had been. The other part, screaming at her to just not go to the counselor's office.
“Oh buck…” Derpy sighed as the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Sluggishly, she packed up her papers and trotted out of the room. Nopony noticed the scowl on her face as she slowly made her way to the office.
“Why can't they just leave it as it is,” Derpy grumbled as the office came into view. As Derpy finally made to the door, her friends were exiting. As well as a earth pony, who’s right eye was slightly twitching.
“... and there was this one time that I convinced her to put a funnel into…”
“Ok!” the older mare yelled, cutting off Carrot Top’s sentence. “I think I’ve heard all I needed to… and more…”
“But I wanna hear what Derpy did with the funnel!” Dilvent quickly whined.
“Carrot Top, If you continue that story I will tell everypony what you did with that stalk of celery!” Derpy quickly yelled, a mild blush on her face.
“Oh, Miss Hooves, thank Celest… I mean, I’m happy to see you came,” the older mare said with a caring smile, preventing Carrot Top from responding. Although the blush on Carrot Tops face was enough to say that she wouldn't have responded in the first place.
“You can go get your lunch first if you want,” the mare continued.
“No, I just want to get this over with,” Derpy grumbled as she made her way around the group and into the office.
“And we will,” the counselor responded as she followed Derpy back into her office.
“Wait!” Dilvent called as the door began to close. “What did Carrot Top do with the stalk of…” the door closing before Dilvent’s question could be finished. Although, a very loud thud was heard soon after.
“Well, your friends are quite… lively, to say the least,” the older mare commented as she took a seat at the large table in the middle of the room.
“Sorry if Carrot Top weirded you out Miss E,” Derpy softly chuckled as she took a seat opposite from the other mare. “I think she was dropped as a foal.”
“First of all, just call me Essa,” the mare began as she pulled out a few papers from a nearby folder. “Secondly, Miss Harvest… she…”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Derpy said as she looked down at the table. It was at that point that she noticed that they were the only two in the room. “So where’s, Shooting Star?”
“She should be getting her lunch and then heading here,” Essa said as she continued to look at the papers in front of here. Just then, the office door reopened and Shooting Star carefully walked in with a tray of food on her back. Without saying a word, she walked over to the side opposite Derpy and placed the tray on the table with her wings.
“I grabbed some extra if you’d like some,” Shooting Star hesitantly said as she looked towards Derpy. Looking up slightly, Derpy did notice that there was a slightly larger amount of food on the tray then what ponies usually got.
“No thank you,” Derpy seethed, the muffin incident from the summer replaying itself in her mind.
“Okay…” Shooting Star trailed off.
“Well then,” Essa began, drawing both pegasus’ attention. “Now that that you're both here, lets get down to business. Now then, Derpy, I hear you're having trouble with Shooting Star.”
“’Trouble would be an understatement,” Derpy groaned. “I don’t see what the problem is here! So I don't want to talk to her… Would you?”
“Derpy, I just wanted to…” Shooting Star began, only to be interrupted by Essa’s raised hoof.
“Of course Miss Hooves,” Essa began, her voice calm and soothing. “I fully understand your anger and while I know you didn’t want to, I’m very happy that you came here to help settle this problem.”
“How could you possibly know?” Derpy questioned. “The only ponies that know, are me, my friends, and a few other ponies.”
“While I don't know everything,” Essa began, looking down at the papers in front of her. “I do know everything that involved Shooting Star because she checks in with me here at the school,” Essa clarified.
“So you know everything…” Derpy grumbled as she stared at Essa with a blank expression. She expected as much. More and more ponies seemed to be learning about what had happened during the summer, and all she wanted to do was forget all the troubles and move on with her life and new daughter.
“Not everything,” Essa quickly reassured. “While I do know that, Glittering Gem did have a personal vendetta against you and your daughter Dinky, congratulations by the way, I do not know its origins and there is no need to tell me.”
Derpy couldn't help but cringe at the mention of the horrid mare’s name. Quickly pushing it away, Derpy let out a soft sigh. “Well… I guess that’s okay.”
“Okay, now then, Derpy,” Essa began, a soft smile on her face. “I understand your anger and I simply want to help settle it between you and Miss Star. Do you understand?”
“I guess,” Derpy mumbled as she looked over at Shooting Star. The mare was sitting almost motionless as she stared blankly at the tray of food in front of her.
“Good,” Essa replied with a little chuckle. “Now then, by what I’ve heard, you haven't been really open towards an apology from Miss Star, right?”
“Because there is nothing she can say to ever make up for what she did,” Derpy quickly responded, her anger rising again. “If you know what she did, then you should know that!”
“Miss Hooves,” Essa addressed sternly. “You may be angry, but I will not have that kind of tone in my office, am I understood?”
Derpy couldn't help but shudder as Essa talked to her in the same calm way she had been already, yet still to the point of striking fear into her heart.
“If there’s nothing I can say…” Shooting Star voiced, finally joining the conversation. “Is there something I could do?”
“How about rot in a prison cell…” Derpy mumbled to herself.
“What was that Miss Hooves?” Essa asked, apparently not hearing Derpy.
“Nothing…” Derpy grumbled as she looked back down at the table. “If you really regret what you did, then you shouldn't have done it in the first place,” Derpy told Shooting Star, her gaze continually on the table.
“But I didn't know that was going to happen!” Shooting Star quickly responded.
“Yeah right!” Derpy yelled back, her good eye staring daggers into the other pegasus. “You two followed me for almost a whole week. Dinky even had nightmares because she kept seeing you two sneaking around behind my back! So I highly doubt you didn't know what was going to happen!”
“Miss Hooves!” Essa said, her voice now raised. “I don’t care how angry either of you get, we will talk to one another calmly and professionally as long as we are in my office. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” both pegasus replied timidly.
“Good,” Essa said, a smile on her face and her voice soft once again. “Now, lets try this again. Derpy, by what I've heard, your a smart mare, so you have to realize that you're placing a lot of blame on Shooting Star. Some, I can't help but feel that she doesn't deserve.”
“Doesn't deserve?” Derpy questioned, becoming slightly confused. “Because of her, not only was I drugged and my foal foalnapped, we both almost died!”
“And Shooting Star caused all of this?” Essa questioned, the skepticism easily noticeable in her voice, “because I’m pretty sure that was all Glittering Gem’s doing, correct?”
“Well, yes, but you knew what she was doing,” Derpy began as she continued to look at Shooting Star. She was once again feeling like everypony was against her.
“But I didn't know that she was going to do that!” Shooting Star tried to reply. But Derpy wouldn't hear it.
Instead, Derpy decided to pull out some of her homework from her morning classes and get it done. Amazingly enough, neither Essa or Shooting Star said anything as Derpy silently worked.
Looking up from her work every few minutes, Derpy noticed that while Essa was writing down something on the few papers she had in front of her, Shooting Star was doing nothing. She hadn't even touched the food in front of her, which Derpy was sure was cold by now.
After almost twenty minutes, Essa decided to break the silence, “would you like to continue from where we left off?”
“I guess,” Derpy sighed as she put her homework away. She had to admit, she did feel a little better than she had earlier, but all that did was worry her. “Maybe I am blaming her for a lot,” she quietly said to herself.
“Alright,” Essa said as she looked over at the still silent pegasus. “Shooting Star, why don't you calmly explain your side of the story.”
“Her side of the story?! I already know what she did, she…” Derpy began, only to fall silent as Essa glared at her.
“Okay, I guess I should start with the morning the incident happened,” Shooting Star began as she began to retell the events of the day from her perspective. At first, Derpy wasn't going to listen, but a small part of her decided to at least give her a chance.
-----
Just like everyday for the past week, Shooting Star waited outside of the hotel for her idol to come out. She remembered the first day she did it and all the joy she felt, thinking that she would not only get back at Derpy, but learn some tips for her own future firsthoof from her idol.
But as the days went on, all the unicorn would talk about was about the foal Derpy was taking care of. It started to get to the point that Shooting Star was having second thoughts on if she should continue hanging around the mare or tell somepony.
“Are you just going to stand there gawking like a hillbilly bumpkin or are you ready to finally set our plan into motion,” a soothing yet cenacle voice said, cutting into Shooting Star’s thoughts.
“Yes Miss Gem,” Shooting Star replied as she quickly began following Glittering Gem down the street. Like normal, the unicorn wore a large sun hat and sunglasses. It always confused Shooting Star how nopony seemed to recognize the model.
“Now the first thing we have to do is figure out where that bitch and foal currently are,” Glittering Gem said as they walked towards Derpy’s neighborhood.
“Its still really early…” Shooting Star said as she looked over at the rising sun. “I think she may be with her friend Carrot Top though.”
Just as Shooting Star finished her statement, Derpy’s house came into view. Just outside stood Carrot Top, Derpy, and in a small wagon, the small foal. Shooting Star couldn't help but notice that both Derpy and the foal looked very tired.
“Good, looks like they’re leaving for the morning,” Glittering Gem commented with a chuckle as the small group walked off in a different direction from their stalkers.
“Okay… so what’s the plan anyways?” Shooting Star asked, a little scared due to the older mares chuckle.
“We’re just going to scare her a little,” Glittering Gem replied as she turned and walked back the way they had come. “But first, we need to get a few things.”
From there, the two spent the entire morning trotting through the town. They ended up stopping at a pharmacy, the grocery store and then to Shooting Star’s house.
“My parents are both at work right now and they don't really like it when…”
“I only need to borrow your stove,” the unicorn smugly replied as she made her way towards the kitchen.
“Why do you need to use the stove?” Shooting Star asked as she walked into the kitchen. Without replying, Glittering Gem proceeded to use her magic as she pulled out a muffin tray and all the ingredients necessary to bake them.
“We’re making muffins?” Shooting Star questioned as she tried to look at a strange bottle of liquid Glittering Gem had set next to the ingredients. “But Derpy loves muffins?”
“Exactly,” the older mare responded, taking the strange bottle before Shooting Star could figure out what it was.
For the next hour, nothing was said as the older mare made chocolate chip muffins. Once they were done, Shooting Star had to admit that they smelled and looked really good. But when she instinctively tried to take one, her hoof was forcefully pulled away by the older mares magic.
“Those. Aren't. For. You!” Glittering Gem seethed as she placed them on a plate and walked out of the room. Shooting Star took one last glance at the mess her idol had left in her kitchen before quickly following her out of the house.
As they made their way towards Derpy’s in silence, Shooting Star couldn't help but worry as Glittering Gem continuously mumbled to herself, chuckling every few minutes. Once they made it to Derpy’s house, Glittering Gem didn't waste a second as she tried to open the door, only to be held back by its lock.
“Well what do you know,” Shooting Star laughed, her fears and worries starting to take hold. “The door’s locked and nopony’s home. Heh, might as well just come back later…”
Shooting Star turned to leave only to stop when she heard a click and the sound of a opening door.
“What do you know, turns out is open,” Glittering Gem said as she continued into house, the plate of muffins floating just ahead of her. “Now which room is that retards?”
“This is breaking and entering, we could be arrested for this!” Shooting Star tried to tell the other mare, hesitating just outside the front door.
“Never mind, I found it!” Glittering Gem’s voice called from somewhere in the house. Closing the door behind her, Shooting Star cautiously made her way into the house and all the way to Derpy’s room.
Inside the room, Shooting Star watched as Glittering Gem looked around the room with disgust. After a few minutes, the unicorn placed the plate on the bed as well as a small card.
“Now we hide,” the unicorn said as she pushed past Shooting Star and made her way to a nearby closet.
“But… but,” Shooting Star began to stutter as fear started to overtake her mind. She couldn't help but feel that this was going too far just for some petty revenge. But before she could back out, a magical grasp pulled her into the nearby closet.
“Soon,” Glittering Gem kept mumbling to herself, a strange look in her eyes.
Suddenly, a new sound filled the house as the front door was opened and a new voice filled the house.
“Today has been pretty calm, huh muffin?” Derpy’s voice echoed, causing Shooting Stars blood to run cold.
This was too much for her to take and wanted out, but no matter what she tried, she could neither move or talk as Glittering Gem began to smile sinisterly.
“And I’m supposed to believe that?” Derpy questioned, becoming slightly annoyed. “We’ve been here for over an hour and all I’ve heard from you is that you noticed her acting like the monster she is.”
“I’m not finished with my story yet!” Shooting Star yelled in agitation, her face forming a scowl. But almost as suddenly as her scowl appeared, it faded and a look of worry took its place.
“I-I’m sorry,” she began to stutter. “I didn’t mean to yell at you like that, but you're being kind of a bi…”
“Miss Star,” Essa quickly interrupted. “Why don't you finish your story before the day runs out, okay?”
“I already know what happened after that point,” Derpy said. “She and that monster drugged me, foalnapped Dinky, and left me unconscious for several hours.”
“But that wasn't what was supposed to happen!” Shooting Star nearly yelled. “She said we were just going to scare you, and that was supposed to be it. I didn’t even know that Dinky was hers until after we left your house!”
-------
"Miss Gem, what are you doing?!" Shooting star called after Glittering Gem. But like the past several blocks, the unicorn remained silent. Only the sound that came was the sound of the foals cries. "Miss Gem, what the buck are you doing?!"
It was only when passing ponies began looking at the passing group that the unicorn reacted, pulling the other two into an alley with her magic.
"You shut that infernal thing you call a mouth, before I shut it for you!" Glittering Gem seethed through her teeth, her magic keeping a firm hold on the other two.
"B-but you took D-Derpy's foal..." Shooting Star began to reply in a panic, only for her mouth to be clamped shut with magic.
"I TOOK what was mine!" Glittering Gem nearly yelled.
"W-what?" Shooting Star stuttered, trying her best to understand what the unicorn had meant. "But..."
"But what?" Glittering Gem said with a menacing smirk. "A pony like me can't have a foal? Well, here's a little bit of free advice, at a big party, stop drinking after the second bottle. Then you'll at least be able to tell them to wear protection."
"Them?!" Shooting Star whimpered as she stared at her old idol.
"What, you can't honestly believe I got to where I am by looks alone? And here I thought you had what it takes?" Glittering Gem continued with slight a chuckle.
Shooting Star continued to look at the unicorn in horror. She couldn't understand how somepony she had looked up to for so long, could be such a monster.
"Well, are you coming?" Glittering Gem called in a huff from the alleys entrance. The foal still crying in the mares magical grip, squeezing the pony doll tightly.
"I’m going to the police!" Shooting Star yelled at the mare. But even as she said it, she didn’t move.
"If you were going to go to the police, you would have already done so. Now come!" Glittering Gem ordered.
At first, Shooting Star turned to run. But before she could find the courage, she found herself turning back and following Glittering Gem back into the street.
------
“That makes it even worse!” Derpy yelled, cutting into Shooting Stars story. Pausing for a moment, Derpy was surprised to see Essa silently listening. “It means that you still helped her, even after you knew something was wrong!”
“But I didn't know…” Shooting Star began quietly, only to trail off once again.
“I don’t care if you didn't know,” Derpy said, trying her best to calm her rising nerves. For several moments, nothing was said as the bell rang, signifying the passing of another period.
As the silence continued, Derpy watched as Shooting Star continued to look down at the, still full, tray of food in front of her. Every few minutes, her face would contort, as if she were about to say something, only to fall back into a saddened expression..
“Derpy?” Essa began, breaking the silence.
“Yes?” Derpy replied, looking at the mare as her anger settled slightly.
“You and Shooting Star used to be friends, right?” the mare asked, a caring smile on her face.
“That was a long time ago,” Derpy huffed, a little agitated by the question. “We were friends up until high school. Then, when some of the older ponies started picking on me, she joined in, instead of defending me. It was shortly after that that, Carrot Top transferred in and she became my new friend”
“So I've heard…” Essa grumbled, her right eye twitching slightly.
“You know how it goes,” Shooting Star began, slouching slightly. “We didn't talk or do anything together for that entire summer and when we finally met back up, we just weren't the same.”
“But it didn't have to be,” Derpy quietly began. “We could of still been friends, but you seemed to like making fun of me. So, why?”
“I finally had a chance to be part of the popular group, and I just thought…” Shooting Star began half heartedly, only to trail off as Derpy began to speak again.
“Why did you stop being my friend?” Derpy interrupted as her eyes began to sting. “Why did you start making fun of me? Why did you turn your back on me? Why would you help a monster like Glittering Gem?!” Derpy couldn't understand why it was happening, but all the anger in her body was beginning to confuse her.
“Derpy,” Shooting Star began as she made her way over, wrapping the other mare in a hug. “I’m sorry for everything. I know that there’s no way for me to make it up, and I know you may never forgive me, but I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry it took you and a foal almost dieing for me to realize how much of a horrible pony I’ve been.” Suddenly, Derpy felt several drops fall on her shoulder as Shooting Star’s own tears began to fall. “After I left the hotel, I swear I was going to the police! But then I saw you out on the street crying and everything just started to happen so fast and I panicked. I didn’t mean to run from you, I just… just…”
Before she could even stop herself, Derpy returned Shooting Stars hug as she began feel her anger subside slowly. Continuously, Shooting Star tried to explain herself further on, but her own crying was making it almost impossible.
Derpy took one final glance at the mare holding her. Her once styled mane was disheveled, what little makeup she had on was trailing down her face, and her tears soaked both her cheeks and Derpy’s coat.
“I… I understand,” Derpy finally relented. Giving Shooting Star a moment to collect herself, Derpy continued. “I understand that you didn't mean for the things that happened to happen. But that doesn't mean that I forgive you. If you want my forgiveness, you're going to have to really earn it, okay?” Derpy finished with a caring smile.
“You mean… you're giving me another chance?” Shooting Star asked as tears began to fall once again, a smile on her face.
Derpy was about to say yes, but caught herself before she said it. Once again all the memories of the torment she and her friends had received from Shooting Star and her friends flashed through her mind.
Suddenly, Derpy remembered the incident she was told of between, Dinky and the young colt, High Lane. Even though she had been scared into thinking, Dinky had been hurt. She still forgave the young colt. Thinking about it, Derpy couldn't help but smile.
It might not be the same, but it was enough to assure her. “Yes, I’m giving you second chance,” Derpy said with a smile. Almost instantly, the air was squeezed out of her lungs as she was pulled into another bone crushing hug.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” Shooting Star began repeating, listening her grip just enough for Derpy to breath. “I promise, I'll do everything I can to make it up to you. I swear!”
“Okay…” Essa said, catching the younger mares attention. “I did not see that coming…”
“What?” Derpy asked as she was finally released from Shooting Star’s death hug. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“I actually expected more yelling and even having to continue this tomorrow,” Essa replied, a slight look of confusion on her face. “Maybe even call security to break up a fight?”
Both Derpy and Shooting Star stared at the counselor with equal looks of confusion.
“Thats actually what I expected too,” Shooting Star admitted with a sigh, looking at Derpy with a slight look of shame.
“Does everypony think that I’m just going to go crazy?” Derpy questioned as she look at the other two mares.
“Well, Miss Harvest did tell me about a time where she found you openly worshiping a muffin,” Essa chuckled.
“Ug, am I ever going to live that down?!” Derpy sighed, flailing her forelegs in the air.
“Wait… you worshipped a muffin?” Shooting Star asked, giggling slightly.
“I think we’re getting off topic again,” Derpy grumbled.
“Right,” Essa calmly replied. “Derpy, you understand though that, Shooting Star didn't mean for you and your daughter to be put in danger, right?”
“yeah…” Derpy sighed. “I guess I’ve kind of always known that, but I was just so angry that I let it cloud my mind.”
“You actually had your friends a little worried as well,” Essa said as she looked down at some notes she had. “I thought I would have to use these, but I guess you don't need a reminder on how others see you.”
“Wait, what did they say about me?” Derpy asked, intrigued by the thought of what her friends had said about her.
“Only good things,” Essa began. “They were mostly just worried because they’ve never actually seen you angry, so they didn't know what to do. The rest was Miss Harvest going on about things I wish I could forget…”
“I’m sure she was just messing with you, she probably made up half of what she told you,” Derpy giggled. “Its just part of her sense of humor.”
“Right… well, she should probably see a psychiatrist,” Essa replied mostly to herself.
“So…” Derpy mumbled, looking between Essa and Shooting Star. “Can I go now? The day’s almost over and I have to pick Dinky up from daycare.”
“If you think that’s all that needs to be said, I don't see why not,” Essa chuckled half heartedly. “Although, I would like to see you two together again in a few days, if that’s ok?”
“Only if it doesn't take all day again,” Derpy replied as she stood back up and placed her saddlebags on her back. “Well, I’ll be going now, goodbye everypony.”
“Wait,” Shooting Star said before Derpy could leave. “I’m glad that I finally got to apologize to you, even if it did result in more crying… but do you think I could… I mean, can I please…”
“If you want to ask me something, just ask,” Derpy sighed.
“Can I please apologize to your daughter?” Shooting Star quickly asked as she clamped her eyes shut and shrunk back.
“What makes you think I’d let you anywhere near her?!” Derpy yelled before she could stop herself.
“You're right, I shouldn’t of said anything!” Shooting Star quickly replied.
“No, no,” Derpy quickly began. “Its ok. But why do you want to apologize to her?”
“Because I put her life in danger too,” Shooting Star replied. “I had plenty of chances to run and turn Glittering Gem in for what she was doing. But I was afraid of what would happen to me if I did. I had so many chances to stop her, but I didn't, and because of that, both you and your daughter got hurt and almost died.”
After Shooting Star was done talking, Derpy took a moment to think. She understood why Shooting Star wanted to apologize. If anything, it was Dinky who deserved an apology, but she still didn't want Shooting Star near her.
“Fine…” Derpy grumbled, knowing that it was something that had to be done. “I’ll let you apologize, but you have to do as I say!”
“Absolutely!” Shooting Star said with a hopeful smile.
“One, you come with me to pick her up from daycare,” Derpy began, which Shooting Star quickly nodded in agreement to. “Then, you wait outside until I come out with her. After that, you will still stay at least five feet away, then you can apologize. Okay?”
“Okay,” Shooting Star replied with a smile. It was at that point that Derpy noticed how bad Shooting Star looked.
“But, do you mind cleaning yourself up a bit? Your makeup is causing weird streaks in your fur,” Derpy asked. With nothing but a quick nod and smile, Shooting Star rushed off towards the door. But the moment she opened it, she jumped back as a orange haired mare tumbled into the room.
Without picking herself up, Carrot Top looked up at the other three mares and gave a weak smile. “This is… exactly what it looks like,” she sighed as she got back on her hooves.
“I’ll… I’ll be right back,” Shooting Star mumbled as she zipped out of the room.
“Did the final bell already ring?” Derpy asked as she turned to look at Essa for confirmation. Unfortunately, the mare wasn’t paying attention as her gaze stayed locked on Carrot Top as her left eye twitched.
“No, the teacher just let us all leave a few minutes early,” Carrot Top replied with a smile before looking at Essa. “Hello again Miss E, since we got some time, want me to finish telling you about…”
“No!” Essa quickly interrupted with a slight cough. “I mean, the bell will ring any moment now and I really got to get home.”
“Oh, okay,” Carrot Top shrugged. “You ready to go Derpy?”
“Yeah, we just gotta wait for Shooting Star,” Derpy said as she began to leave the room, turning only to give the counselor a final goodbye. “Goodbye Miss E, I’ll be sure to come back next week.”
“Oh, I’ll come too,” Carrot Top added in. Derpy couldn't help but giggle as Essa’s faced paled at what Carrot Top had said.
With that, the two walked out into the hall, closing the door as they left.
“You really have to stop tormenting ponies like that Carrot Top,” Derpy chuckled as they stood in the hallway.
“But they make it so easy sometimes. Besides, its something my entire family does and its fun,” Carrot Top replied with a chuckle. Just then, Shooting Star appeared from around a nearby corner, her makeup removed and her mane looking slightly better than it had a few moments earlier.
“Good to see you too finally made up,” Carrot Top said with a smile. “So are you coming with us to pick up Dinky?”
“Uh… yeah, I still have to apologize to her too,” Shooting Star replied as the last bell of the day finally rang. Soon, the halls were full of ponies leaving for the day.
“So are we waiting for, Dilvent and Minerva or…?” Shooting Star asked as she looked around for the other two.
“No, Minerva rushed off saying she didn't want to be late for something,” Carrot Top began as she lead the others out of the building.
“And what about Dilvent?” Shooting Star asked with some hesitation.
“He went to pick his dad up from work,” Carrot Top replied, raising her brow slightly.
“Oh…” Shooting Star sighed with a slight look of disappointment.
“You better watch out Derpy, you may have some competition,” Carrot Top whispered to her friend.
“Competition for what?” Derpy asked, not really understanding what Carrot Top was talking about.
“I don’t even know why I try anymore,” Carrot Top grumbled as she continued to lead the way. Both Derpy and Shooting Star following close behind.
“Remember, five feet,” Derpy retold Shooting Star. “Just because I’m letting you do this, doesn't mean I trust you.”
“I… I promise,” Shooting Star stuttered as she looked at the daycare with a slightly hopeful look.
“Okay then,” Derpy replied as she turned to enter the daycare. I’ll be back out in a minute.”
“We’ll be right here,” Carrot Top called after her.
(o^o)
“Why can't I eat this?” Dinky stared down at the colourful play dough in front of her with mild confusion. It was colourful and soft, yet she had already been told several times, not only by Miss Lemonway, but by Lily as well, that she wasn't supposed to eat it.
“But it looks really tasty.” Dinky quickly looked around to make sure nopony was watching her. While she wasn't looking directly behind her, she was happy to see nopony in her sight. So, she quickly scooped up the red coloured play dough, preparing to take a big bite out of it.
“Trust me, Muffin, it doesn't taste good,” Derpy’s voice chuckled as the red substance was taken from her by a gray wing.
“Awww.” Dinky sagged slightly when the play dough was taken from her once again, but quickly brightened up when her mother scooped her up and gave her a warm hug.
“Did you have a good day?” Derpy asked as she nuzzled Dinky affectionately. Dinky simply giggled in response, happy that it was time to go home with the pony she loved the most.
Soon enough, both of them were outside of the day-care, and like most other times, Carrot Top was waiting for them. But what caught Dinky off guard the most was the other pony standing next to the light orange mare.
“Hey, Dinky!” Carrot Top said as she scooped Dinky off her mothers back, nuzzling her as well. But even then, Dinky continued to star at the other pony, feeling like she had seen her before.
A few moments later, Dinky remembered seeing that pony the other day when her mother was yelling and angry.
“Dinky, this is, Shooting Star, do you remember her? Derpy asked drawing the foals attention. Almost immediately, Dinky began to worry that her mother would start to yell again.
(9_6)
“Maybe this was a bad idea…” Shooting Star sighed as everypony noticed Dinky start to stare at her and Derpy with a slightly worried look.
“Its okay, muffin,” Derpy said as she caught the filly’s full attention. “I’m not going to yell or get angry at her. She just wants to say something.”
Instantly, the worried look on Dinky’s face was replaced with a smile and a giggle.
“How did you know that’s what she was worried about?” Shooting Star asked, catching herself before she could take an instinctive step forward.
“What you should be wondering is what you're going to say,” Derpy replied with a slight smile. “And I know because I’m her mom.”
“Uh, right,” Shooting Star mumbled before falling silent for a moment. Before she spoke again, she took a deep breath and gave Dinky a small smile. “Hi there Dinky.”
Dinky simply stared back at Shooting Star, a slightly confused look on her face.
“You probably don't remember me,” Shooting Star continued. “Well, you probably do remember me from the other day. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Shooting Star fell silent for a moment, then she looked at Derpy. “She can understand me, right?”
“Yes, she’s very smart for her age,” Derpy replied with a smile, nuzzling the top of Dinky’s head affectionately.
“Right,” Shooting Star said as she looked back at Dinky. “Dinky, I want to apologize for something I did. I put you and your mom in danger… and I regret it every day.”
Shooting Star began to lightly sob before she continued, “I am so sorry for scaring and hurting you. My anger clouded my mind and I let the monster that hurt you, hurt you even more.”
“I… just want you to know, even if you don't remember it, that I’m sorry for hurting you,” Shooting Star finished as she took another step back, wiping tears from her eyes.
(o^o)
“What is she talking about?” Dinky stared at Shooting Star, confused as to why she was crying. Her mother wasn't yelling at her, so she shouldn't be crying. But she still seemed really sad.
“It’s okay.” Dinky tried to reach out to the other mare, but her mother only pulled her in tighter. Which only served to confuse Dinky even more, but the action itself did seem to make Shooting Star happier, and that’s all Dinky wanted.
(9_6)
“I guess, she accepts your apology,” Derpy sighed, only to chuckle as she nuzzled Dinky once again.
“Yay, happiness and joy for everypony!” Carrot Top almost sang as she patted Shooting Star on her shoulder. Receiving a small smile in return.
“So, now what?” Derpy asked, giving Shooting Star a questioning eye.
“Wherever you go, I go,” Carrot Top replied as she walked over and took Dinky from Derpy, nuzzling her in the process.
“And you?” Derpy asked as she looked towards Shooting Star.
“Well… I gotta head home, you know, before my parents start to worry,” Shooting Star sighed with a forced smile.
“Alright then,” Derpy lazily replied with a wave of her hoof.
“Aww… and here I thought we could all hang out and tell embarrassing stories about, Derpy,” Carrot Top chuckled.
“Tell me again, why are you friends with her?” Shooting Star asked as she directed her attention at Derpy.
“Because friendship is carrots…” Derpy grumbled as she took Dinky back from her friend.
“Yep,” Carrot top replied with a big toothy grin.
“Alright then,” Shooting Star sighed, turning to leave. “Bye everypony, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I guess so,” Derpy replied as she and Carrot Top turned and left.
By the time Derpy got back home, Carrot Top had already parted ways with the pair and the sun was sinking past the tallest building. Once she reached the door, Derpy couldn't help but chuckle as she found it unlocked, signifying that her father was home.
“So, how did everything go?” Derpy’s father asked as she and Dinky walked into the house. “Do I have to arrest somepony, or should I set another plate at the table?”
“For now, let’s just say that there won’t be so much yelling,” Derpy replied as she entered the living room, a slight smile on her face. “Besides, I wouldn't even let my enemies suffer through your cooking.”
“Really, Derpy?” her father replied as he came into view. Like most of the time, he was fully dressed in his uniform and smelled of a fresh shower.
“You sure do work a lot,” Derpy sighed as she placed Dinky down on the couch.
“Yeah well, I took a few extra shifts,” Derpy’s father sheepishly replied. “Besides, I got next Friday off for Rod’s poker game.”
“You aren't playing with real bits this time, are you?” Derpy asked with a accusing glare towards her father.
“I was…” he coughed sheepishly.
“And when you lose… again?” Derpy continued, raising a brow.
“Ah, but I won’t lose this time,” the stallion replied with a smile, moving closer to the pair. “This time, I’ll have a secret weapon.”
“And what would that be?” Derpy asked, not liking the look in her father’s eye.
“I call it a “Cute bomb“,” he chuckled, grabbing Dinky in his front hooves before Derpy could stop him. “When they see this face, everypony else will fall to our combined might and I can finally rub a few wins in Gold…”
“You’re not taking, Dinky to a poker game!” Derpy interrupted, snatching her giggling daughter back from her father.
“I’m not bringing her to a poker game mater-of-factly,” her father replied, although he had a slight sheepish look. “I was merely bringing her to meet an elderly couple who are friends and have been asking to see her for quite some time.
“Would you look at that, muffin? Grandpa’s already planning to use you for his own nefarious needs,” Derpy said to Dinky, getting a small giggle in reply.
“Your damn right,” Derpy’s father said, pulling both Derpy and Dinky into a one armed hug, his other hoof slowly gliding through the air in front of them. “Can’t you see it, Derpy? I see world domination in our future.”
“I also see a trip to the mental ward…” Derpy sighed.
* * *
“So… now she’s going to start hanging out with us?” Dilvent questioned as he looked toward Shooting Star, looking slightly confused. “I mean, yeah its good to know your not mad…”
“Oh, I’m still very mad,” Derpy replied with a forced smile. “But I might as well give her a chance, right?”
“Right!” Shooting Star quickly replied, pulling Derpy into a hug. “So what’s today’s plan?”
“School,” Derpy replied as she pushed the mare off.
“Okay,” Shooting Star replied as she slid up close next to Dilvent, looking up at the stallion with a slight grin. “What about after school?”
“I have work,” Dilvent nervously chuckled as he hopped his chair several inches away, causing Shooting Star’s grin to fade as she looked at the other three.
“Me and Derpy already have plans,” Carrot Top replied blandly while keeping her eyes locked on the wall clock.
“And I got a student council meeting…” Minerva said, looking at Shooting Star a little worriedly. “Why?”
“Because, I thought we could hang out,” Shooting Star began, her grin returning as she moved closer to Dilvent once again. “I know all the cool hang out spots.”
“Yeah, their all the places we don’t go,” Dilvent replied, pushing Shooting Star away.
With a slightly insulted look, Shooting Star opened her mouth to reply, only to fall silent as the bell rang.
“Would you look at that,” Carrot Top began, leading the charge out of the room. “Its time to get to class, so we’re going to have to finish this later so…”
“… So have a good day until then,” Shooting Star finished as she tried to pull the others into a quick hug.
“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea,” Derpy grumbled almost silently.
“So, how did everything go yesterday?” Dilvent asked as Derpy placed her bags down and took her seat.
“How did ‘what’ go?” Derpy questioned.
“You know, how did the whole thing with Shooting Star go?” Dilvent asked with a giant grin. “Carrot Top says you flaunted her in seconds.”
“Why does everypony think that we were going to fight?!” Derpy grumblked as she let her head hit the desk.
“He’s just pulling your hoof, Derpy,” Minerva giggled from her seat.
“I was actually hoping to get a few laughs,” Carrot Top chuckled. “You should’ve seen Dilvent’s face when I first told him.”
“I-I was j-just playing along!” Dilvent began to stutter in reply sheepishly. Quickly clearing his throat, he recomposed himself before continuing. “Besides, Derpy’s way too soft to fight somepony.”
“It’s because of the muffins,” Carrot Top chuckled as she got up from her desk and moved closer to Derpy. With one of her front hooves, she began poking at Derpy’s side, causing the pegasus to giggle. “She’s a squishy as the muffins she eats.”
“Stop that!” Derpy scoffed pushing her friend away with a chuckle. “And I can fight, I just don’t want to.”
“Why is everypony talking about fighting?” a new voice questioned. Looking over, Derpy wasn’t surprised to see that Shooting Star had finally made it to homeroom.
“We’re not talking about fighting,” Derpy sighed, a slight tone of annoyance just barely noticeable in her voice. “Dilvent simply wanted to know how it went between us.”
“And the fact that you’re at least talking is all I need to know,” Dilvent said with a smile and a chuckle.
“Yes, well…” Derpy began, turning away from Shooting Star with a sigh. “Everypony wanted me to at least give her a chance, so we’ll see how it goes.”
“And I won’t mess it up!” Shooting Star proclaimed with a smile. “Now what do you say we all…”
“No,” everypony replied blandly, facing forward with equal looks of boardom.
“What!?’ Shooting Star almost shouted, causing most of the room to look at her. “But all I was going to say is that we…”
Before Shooting Star could continue, the bell rang, ending home room.
“Well, looks like we’ll have to finish this conversation at lunch,” Carrot Top said with a smile while picking her bags up from the ground.
“What she said,” Dilvent mumbled, following behind Carrot Top; Minerva and Derpy wordlessly following as well.
“Wait for me!” Shooting Star quickly called after them, moving to stand next to Derpy.
The rest of the morning seemed to drag on forever as Shooting Star stuck to Derpy’s side every chance she could. By the time lunch finally rolled around, Derpy was beging to regret her choice.
“She just won’t leave me alone…” Derpy grumbled as she and her friends took their regular seats, Shooting Star having left to check in with the counselor. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was a blood drawing tick.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say about somepony,” Minerva replied sternly. “Even if she’s annoying, she’s only doing to try to make up for what she did.”
“Are our lives really so boring that this is all we can talk about?” Carrot Top sighed.
“What else is there to talk about?” Dilvent questioned with a slight chuckle.
“Food,” Carrot Top stated matter-of-factly.
“What are next test will entail in math?” Minerva tried to input, asking more than saying.
“Dinky,” Derpy said with a smile.
“Boy’s, duh!” Shooting Star’s voice rang, drawing everypony’s attention. Without waiting for a reply, the mare took a seat next to Dilvent, smirking at the stallion.
“Pass…” the others stated in reply.
“Fine,” Shooting Star almost wined as she slouched down.
“Anyways,” Dilvent began as he looked towards Derpy. “Derpy, you and your dad are still coming over Friday, right?”
“Of course,” Derpy chirped happily.
“Right,” Dilvent replied with a nod. “Before I forget, my mom wanted to know if we should get or move anything in the house for Dinky.”
“Oh, there’s no need for any of that,” Derpy shrugged before a look of realization crossed her face. “Just be sure your room’s door is closed and locked. I really don’t need her around your ‘collection’.”
“What are you ponies talking about?” Shooting Star asked as she looked between Dilvent and Derpy.
“Dilvent’s dad hosts a poker night every now and then,” Carrot Top said off hoof. “My uncle and Derpy’s dad are some of the ones who play. Me and Derpy go to make sure that neither of them bet the houses.”
“Oh, can I come?” Shooting Star asked looking towards Dilvent with a smile. “My dad likes poker and I could meet your parents.”
“While I’m sure my parents would be fine with it,” Dilvent said as he suppressed a laugh. “But, you should be asking Derpy.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Derpy said with a grin as she put on an innocent face.. “But are you sure you wanna go? Because just about everypony there will know what happened, and who’s to say what they will think of you.”
“I-I’m sure…” Shooting Star began to hesitantly reply a slight look of fear crossing her face. “I mean, it won’t be that bad, will it?”
“Only one way to find out,” Carrot Top chirped with a giggle.
“I… I guess so,” Shooting Star gulped. “Won’t know until then.”
“Oh, it wont be that bad,” Dilvent said as he pulled a small blue gem from his bag and bighting a small chunk of it off. “Nopony will be happy to see you, but you have nothing to worry about.”
“O…Okay,” Shooting Star half responded as her eyes locked onto the gem Dilvent was eating. “So, you really do eat gems?”
“Yeah,” Dilvent replied with a confused look. “I eat one every day at lunch. What did you think this was, candy?”
“Uh, yes actually,” Shooting Star replied with a sheepish smile.
“I thought it was an ice pop,” Derpy chuckled, causing everypony to laugh.
(o^o)
“I don’t like having my face washed!” Dinky tried her best to push her mother and the cloth she had, away.
“Now now Muffin,” Derpy said as she continued to wash Dinkies face of her snack. “We don’t want you to be messy when you meet new ponies, do you?”
“Is she ready yet,” Derpy’s father asked as he entered the room. Dinky couldn’t help but stare at him oddly, since he wasn’t wearing his uniform.
“Yep!” Derpy chirped as she stopped wiping at the small foal. “Are you ready, Muffin?”
“Ready for what?” Dinky looked at her mother in confusion. Just then, a thunderous ponding sounded through the house.
“Well, looks like Shooting Star and Big Rig are here,” Derpy’s father heavily sighed. Watching the stallion leave, Dinky couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t look too happy.
“Big D!” a loud gruff voice echoed through the house, causing Dinky to shrink back slightly.
“It’s okay, Muffin,” Derpy said as she rubbed Dinky’s back. “He’s just loud.”
“… and it hurt when we stopped talking,” the same gruff voice said in a more manageable tone. After a few moments, three ponies entered the room. One was Dinky’s grandfather, another was a very nervouse looking Shooting Star. But the third was a whole other story.
He had a deep red coat and charcoal black mane and tail. And while he didn’t have wings or a horn, he was even bigger than her grandfather, almost towering over the other stallion.
“So this is the little filly, huh?” The larger pony said as he began to walk closer to Dinky and her mother.
“He’s really big.” Dinky couldn’t help but shrink back as the stallion stood in front of her and Derpy.
“Hi, Mr. Rig,” Derpy greeted as she continued to rub Dinky’s back softly, helping her to feel at ease.
“Derpy, I gotta apologize for what my daughter did. I’m sorr-“ Big rig began to say, falling silent as Derpy raised a hoof.
“There’s no need for you to apologize Mr. Rig,” Derpy said as she picked Dinky up. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Alright then,” Big Rig sighed before looking at Derpy with a friendly smile. “and that’s enough of that ‘Mr.’ stuff. Just call me ‘Rig’ like everypony else.”
“And this is Dinky,” Derpy replied with a chuckle, holding the little foal out to say hello.
“He’s even bigger up close.” Dinky couldn’t help but stare wide eyed at the stallion.
“Hello there little one,” Big Rig said as he reached out and ticked, Dinky’s belly with a hoof, causing the little foal to giggle.
“Okay, we met her, can we go now?” Shooting Star asked from the rooms enterence.
“Right then, let’s go!” Derpy’s father proclaimed, leading the group out of the room and out the house.
(9_6)
“That is just so cute,” Big Rig commented as he watched Derpy pull the wagon with its precious cargo.
“It’s how we usually get around together,” Derpy replied. “It’s a lot better than leaving her in some silly harness and she can move around and look at everything.”
“I’m mostly just surprised that you still have this dusty old thing,” Big Rig chuckled. “But I’ve been surprised a lot lately.”
“That’s life for ya,” Derpy’s father replied with his own chuckle. “Just don’t be surprise when you lose today.”
“So you still think you can actually win?” Big Rig asked as the group turned another street. Turning his attention to Derpy, he continued. “How has he not gambled away your house yet?”
“Because I won’t let him,” Derpy chuckled. Looking around, Derpy was happy to see that they were only a few more blocks from Dilvent’s.
“So, Big D,” Big Rig said, drawing Derpy’s fathers attention.
“What cha need, Rig?” the other stallion responded without looking over at Big Rig.
“Is it true that this, Dilvent is half dragon?” Big Rig asked, the tone of his voice revealing that he didn’t really believe it.
“Yes, he is,” Derpy’s father openly laughed. “At first I thought he was one of those Thestrals, or bat ponies. But he’s legitimately half dragon.”
“So, there’s a dragon where we’re going?” Big Rig asked, his voice shaking slightly.
“No,” Derpy chuckled, noticing the large stallions slight signs of fear and worry. “Dilvent’s the closest thing to a dragon you’ll find around here. He was adopted when he was five.”
“Oh, well that’s good,” Big Rig sighed happily as the group stood outside a large gated house.
“Well, this is it,” Derpy said as she opened the front gate and walked in.
“Not a bad place,” Big Rig commented as he looked up at the two story house. Look, Derpy saw the same light brown house she had come to know within the past few years. The roof looked like it had been retiled, but other than that, it was still the same.
“Goldenrod, Dilvent’s father, is a professor at the local university,” Derpy’s father responded as he walked up to the front door and rung the bell. Within seconds the door opened, revealing a smiling Carrot Top.
“Finally!” Carrot Top sighed. “We've been waiting forever for all of you.”
Moving to the side, Carrot Top allowed everypony to make their way into a mildly large hallway. Leaving the wagon outside, Derpy carried Dinky inside, making sure to whip her hooves before going to far in.
“Careful Derpy, Miss Breeze is literally waiting to jump the two of you the moment you walk into the living room,” Carrot Top chuckled as she closed the door behind the final pony.
“I expected as much,” Derpy chuckled as she nuzzled the top of Dinky’s head before moving forward. “Well, let’s get the introductions over with.”
“Oh Derpy, she’s so cute!” a elderly sky blue pegasus squealed, nuzzling the top of Dinky’s head. “Can I keep her?”
“You can try,” Derpy replied jokingly at first, becoming serious a moment later. “But the last pony that did is in jail.”
For several moments, the elderly mare remained silent as she looked between Dinky and Derpy several times with her violet eyes. Derpy couldn’t help but chuckle at the mock look of seriousness the mare had.
“How long would it be until I would be caught?” the elderly mare asked as she gave Dinky one final nuzzle before returning her to Derpy’s hooves.
“I’d say minutes, but I’m just her mommy,” Derpy giggled as she nuzzled her daughter.
“Then it would be worth it,” the elderly mare replied with a smile, bopping Dinky in the nose.
“At least you didn’t run off with her like I thought you would, Miss Breeze,” Derpy’s father chuckled, ruffling Dinky’s mane with a hoof.
“That’s only because I threatened to lock her out of the house if she did,” Dilvent blankly stated from the side of the room. Big Rig stood in front of him, staring at him with a mildly confused look. Every few moments, he would lift up a hoof and poke at something. “Can somepony please get him to stop?”
“Daddy, stop that!” Shooting Star whined with a blush.
“But his teeth are so sharp,” Big Rig smiled, poking at one of Dilvent’s exposed teeth. “There like little mini daggers of death!”
“Daddy!” Shooting Star snapped, trying to push her father away from Dilvent.
“You know, my daughter has been talking about you for the past week,” Big Rig stated as he allowed himself to be moved.
“Stop talking!” Shooting Star screamed, her face lighting up. “For the sweet love of Celestia, please. Stop. Talking!”
“It is a fathers duty to grill any colt that comes near my daughter,” Big Rig chuckled, obviously enjoying the fact that he was thoroughly embarrassing his daughter.
“Be happy your dad can’t perform background checks,” Derpy said, trying to sympathize. But if she was honest with herself, she really did like how embarrassed Shooting Star was.
“I was j-just telling him how you tried to h-help me settle things with, Derpy,” Shooting Star began to stutter.
“Which you did terribly at,” Big Rig commented.
“If you ladies are done,” a new, more cheery sounding voice chirped from a nearby door way. “We’d actually like start playing if it would be okay with the rest of you.”
“We’ll be there in a moment Grocer!” Derpy’s father shot back with a chuckle.
“Well, I’m dealing the cards! So if you youngsters don’t get in here, you’re out for this round!” an elderly sounding voice yelled from the other room.
“Well, I guess we better get going then, come on Big Rig,” Derpy’s father called, drawing the larger stallions attention. “Let me introduce you to everypony else.”
“Oh, this is gonna be a blood bath,” the large stallion chuckled as he moved to follow Derpy’s father. But before either stallion could get far, each was stopped by their daughters, equal stern looks in their eyes.
“Hand them over,” Derpy simply stated, holding one hoof as she set Dinky down.
“Hand what over?” Derpy’s father asked, trying his best to look as innocent as possible.
Sighing heavily, Derpy reached under her father’s left wing and pulled out a small pouch. Derpy could hear the bits banging against each other as she held the mildly large bag in her hoof.
“For shame Big D,” Big Rig began to say, a look of betrayal. “I was told that we weren’t supposed to bring bits to this.”
“Dad,” Shooting Star simply said as she drew her father’s attention with a stern glare. Without waiting for a response, she reached into the large stallion’s mane and pulled out a bag of bits.
“You and your mother never let me have any fun…” Big Rig grumbled as he and Derpy’s father finally left the room.
“I see some things haven’t changed,” Derpy said as she placed the bit pouch in her saddlebags.
“Just the amount,” Shooting Star tried to joke as she looked around the room the group was in. It was obviously a living room, but the furnishing made everypony feel like they had stepped back in time at least thirty years.
“It’s like I’m visiting my grandmother,” Shooting Star grumbled as she took a seat on a small couch.
Derpy looked around the room she had come accustomed too. Like normal, there were two large brown couches and a dark red cushioned chair. The glass top coffee table had a few bowls filled with snacks and a mildly large window on one side of the room allowed the days fading light to spill into the room from its position above several small book cases filled with an assortment of books, pictures and knickknacks.
“I think it’s nice,” Carrot Top chimed in with a smile. “It reminds me of home.”
“I bet it would,” Shooting Star snickered, only to realize what she said a moment later. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound insensitive.”
“I’m sure you did…” Derpy replied with a sigh and a failed attempt at rolling her eyes. “So, what does everypony want to talk about.”
“Why don’t you introduce me to your new friend,” Miss Breeze said as she took a seat next to Shooting Star, a slightly unnatural grin on her face. “Because I’m sure that the things I heard about don’t do her justice.”
Derpy couldn’t help but giggle as Shooting Star began to stutter an introduction, failing terribly as Ms. Breeze did nothing but stare at the other pegasus.
“So your friends now?” Ms. Breeze inquired as she stood up and walked behind the couch and positioning herself right behind Shooting Star. A pure look of terror made its way onto the younger mare's face as the older mare placed her two front hooves gently on the sides of her head, “because I’ve heard a lot of things that say otherwise.”
“M-mom, th-there’s no need too…” Dilvent began to stutter, only to be silenced by a stern look from his mother.
“Oh, I’m not going to hurt her if that’s what you’re afraid of,” the older pegasus said with a smile. Without any resistance, she slowly moved Shooting Star’s head so that she could see everypony in the room. “I just want her to know, that if she ever tries to hurt any of you again, I won’t be afraid to intervene.”
“Fi-filly s-scouts h-honor,” Shooting Star weakly replied.
“I highly doubt you were in the filly scouts,” Ms. Breeze sighed as she released Shooting Star’s head and made her way back onto the couch.
“I… gotta use the bathroom,” Shooting Star sputtered as she jumped to her hooves, her face glowing red and her eyes slightly dilated. Without even waiting for directions, she rushed out of the room without looking back.
“You didn’t need to scare her that bad,” Dilvent sighed. “I just hope she makes it to the bathroom.”
“Well, since she just turned left,” Carrot Top commented as she looked towards the hall Shooting Star disappeared down, “you may want to get a mop bucket ready.”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Ms. Breeze chuckled as she looked back over towards Derpy and Dinky. “So, how does it feel to raise a filly?”
“Its great!” Derpy replied confidently, nuzzling the top of the filly’s head. “I had to change a few things, but it was all worth it.”
“It always is,” Breeze replied with a smile before turning to look at her son. “So, when can I expect one?”
“One what?” Dilvent snapped back, the look on his face saying he knew what she meant but didn’t want to talk about it.
“A grandfoal of course!” Breeze snapped back. “It’s unfair that Derpy’s father is already a grandfather when me and Goldenrod are over twenty years older than him.”
“I’m not even going to try,” Dilvent grumbled as he left the room, most likely going to go join the poker game.
“Can’t take a joke, can he?” Carrot Top giggled.
“Who ever said I was joking?” Breeze asked rather sternly. “I need a grandfoal to spoil senseless or else I’ll go crazy after he leaves.”
“Is Dilvent going somewhere?” Shooting Star asked as she re-entered the room.
“Not yet, but I doubt he’ll want to spend the rest of his life living with two old ponies for the rest of his life,” Breeze sighed as she watched Shooting Star take a seat.
“Knowing Dilvent, I’m sure he wont be going anywhere for awhile,” Derpy chuckled.
“That would be nice,” Breeze said with a smile.
“So, you adopted him?” Shooting Star asked.
“Yes, me and my husband always wanted a foal,” Breeze began, turning her attention to Shooting Star. “But because of an incident, I couldn’t bear one, so we decided to adopt.”
“Do you know what happened to his real parents?” Shooting Star asked.
“Unfortunately, no,” Breeze shrugged. “He was apparently found on a park bench in Manehattan one day. Four years later, Goldenrod stumbled upon him at an Orphanage in Canterlot and I’m sure you can figure out the rest.”
“Once you finish telling her my social security number, Dad spilled his cider again,” Dilvent said as he entered the room again.
“Oh for the love of Celestia…” Breeze grumbled as she stood up and left the room.
“That’s so sad…” Shooting Star’s voice sobbed.
“Oh come on…” Dilvent sighed. “What is with mares and crying whenever they hear I was adopted?”
“Hey, I didn’t cry!” Carrot Top snapped.
“I know,” Dilvent responded with a dead-pan look. “You didn’t have to laugh though.”
“I said I was sorry…” Carrot Top pouted as she picked up a bowl of chips in her hooves and proceeded to stuff her face. “Besides, I didn’t laugh at the fact you were adopted, I laughed at the story of how your dad first met you!”
“Why, what happened?” Shooting Star asked as she took a seat, ignoring the aggravated groan the stallion gave.
“He ended up stumbling upon Dilvent in his room when he was eating a gem,” Derpy mildly chuckled, not finding the entire story funny, but entertaining all the same.
“He rushed into the room, took the rest of my gem, and proceeded to pry my mouth open to make sure I hadn’t damaged my teeth…” Dilvent grumbled from his side of the room. “It took him about five minutes to realize my teeth were razor sharp.”
“I guess that’s a little funny,” Shooting Star giggled.
“You try having your mouth forced open by a random pony and tell me how it feels…” Dilvent grumbled back.
“Mr. Goldenrod told it better,” Carrot Top stated, taking a moment to breath from her bowl of chips.
“Can I meet him?” Shooting Star asked, looking over at Dilvent.
“No.” Dilvent replied without hesitation.
“Why not?” Shooting Star asked, looking towards the other for answers.
Carrot Top barely offered a glance before she shrugged and continued to eat.
“He just has a bad problem with going off on tangents,” Derpy ended up answering as she made her way to the doorway with Dinky in one of her legs. “Dilvent finds it embarrassing for some reason.”
“It’s not as embarrassing as it is really annoying,” Dilvent said with a defeated sigh. “But if you really do, let’s go.”
Following the stallion, Derpy carried her daughter into the houses study, Shooting Star following closely behind.
“Is that a new table?” Derpy asked as she noticed the large, decorative poker table sitting in the middle of the room. The last one she had seen was all wood with several groves for plastic chips and drinks. The new one had green felt covering most of it, leaving only the edges open for small metallic holsters for plastic chips and drinks.
“It’s custom,” a dirt gold stallion replied from one side of the table, his yellow magic holding several cards in front of his face. “I ordered the wood from…”
“Yeah, great dad, nopony really cares,” Dilvent quickly interrupted. Turning to face Shooting Star, Dilvent began to introduce all the other ponies in the room.
“That’s Grocer, Carrot Top’s uncle,” Dilvent said, indicating the lime green stallion with a dirt brown mane and orange eyes.
“That’s Grain, a teacher from the local university along with my dad,” Dilvent said as he pointed at a stale blue mare with a matching mane that was put into a bun.
“That’s Miss Grain, Dilvent!” The mare snapped as she glared at Dilvent with her green eyes.
“Y-yes Miss Grain,” Dilvent stuttered like a scared foal, causing a chuckle throughout the room.
“And I’m Goldenrod, Dilvent’s father,” The dirt gold stallion quickly said as he shakily got to his hooves revealing that he was wearing a dark brown coat. Using the table for support, he made his way over to Shooting Star and offered a hoof, his greyed out mane falling over his brown eyes.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Shooting Star timidly replied as she met the stallions hoof.
“Miss Star,” Goldenrod began, preventing the mare from moving her hoof. “Did you know that in several ancient kingdoms, ponies who put a foal in danger would be chained up outside the ga…”
*THUNK*
“Goldenrod, that is not something to discuss in the presences of others!” Breeze snapped, a small wooden cane wrapped in one of her wings.
“That actually hurt that time,” Goldenrod whined as he released Shooting Star’s hoof to rub the slowly growing knot on the back of his head. With a obviously fake moan of pain, the stallion turned back to the table and looked directly at Derpy’s father. “Officer, I’d like to press charges for assault.”
“I’m off duty,” Derpy’s father replied with a shrug, “and frankly, you deserved it.”
“Better for her to do it instead of me,” Big Rig added as he glared at the elderly unicorn.
“I feel like I’m trapped in the ancient land of Th…” Goldenrod began, only to be silenced by another whack of the cane.
“Will you please act you’re age?!” Breeze snapped, glaring at her husband. “There is a foal here.”
“Oh, its not like she knows what I’m talking about,” Goldenrod chuckled as he looked toward Derpy and Dinky.
(o^o)
“I don’t like him.” While she did find the older stallion funny, the fact that he was obviously being mean, didn’t sit well with her. As the stallion came closer, Dinky turned her head away like she had seen her mother do before.
“Or maybe she does…” the older stallion mumbled as he visibly deflated, ignoring the laughs of the ponies around him.
“Yes, well” the green pony sighed with a chuckle. “Could we please get back to the game?”
“Game?” Dinky’s ears quickly pricked up at the mention of a game.
“Looks like somepony else wants to join in,” Dinky’s grandfather chuckled. “Why don’t you let her join us for a few hooves, Derpy?”
Before her mother could even speak, Dinky began to fight her way out of her grip, wanting to see the game the older ponies were playing.
“Why don’t you let her, Derpy?” Dilvent chuckled.
“Fine…” Derpy half grumbled, half chuckled as she gave Dinky to her grandfather. "But if she develops an addiction because of this, so help me!”
“I’ll pay off the loan sharks, don’t worry,” the stallion replied with a chuckle as he waved away Dinky’s mother and her friends.
“Okay, now can we get back to the game?!” the green pony groaned.
“You obviously have a good hoof…” the only mare of the group around the table replied without looking at anypony else. “But I’ll still beat you in the end.”
“If anypony needs something, don’t be afraid to call,” the elderly pegasus said as she gave a goodbye wave to Dinky before leaving the room.
“Alright, let’s do this,” Dinky’s grandfather proclaimed as the game resumed.
Even though Dinky didn’t know what game the older ponies were playing, she did have fun watching. Especially when her grandfather let her play with some of the plastic coins he had.
“I like the way they sound.” Dinky used her hoof to push another small tower of coins down.
“That is so cute!” Grain cooed as she watched Dinky, restacking the small tower for the filly.
“Traitor…” Dinky’s grandfather grumbled from the other side of the table, his lap bare and his own tower of chips quickly dwindling.
“Oh shut your yap, Big D,” Big Rig chuckled.
“Why do you keep calling him ‘Big D’?” Grocer asked as he set his cards down for a second. “I though his name was…”
“You know what, how about we try something different this next hoof,” Dinky’s grandfather quickly interrupted.
“And what would that be?” Goldenrod asked as he collected all the cards.
“We’ll play five card draw and include, Dinky in the game,” the stallion replied with a chuckle. “We’ll forgo going around and just play our hands out right. That way, Dinky gets to have a little fun too.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Big Rig chuckled as everypony nodded in agreement.
A few moments later, Dinky was set up in an empty chair, several books stacked up so that she could see the table. The smile on her face helping everypony understand that she was enjoying it.
“Yay!” Dinky watched in fascination as Goldenrod passed cards to each pony.
“Alright, now let’s see what we go…” Grocer began as he picked up his cards, his words dying away. Looking around, Dinky watched as all the ponies looked at their cards with almost equal looks of confusion, all except for Dinky’s Grandfather.
“I’m sorry everypony, but it looks like this hoof is mine,” the stallion said confidently as he set his cards down. “Royal strait flush, diamonds.”
“Damn,” Big Rig grumbled as he and the others just about threw their cards on the table.
“Sorry everypony,” Dinky’s grandfather chuckled as he shifted over to his left to check Dinky’s cards. “Maybe this luck… will stay… with…”
“What, just realize you beat a foal at a hoof of poker?” Goldenrod chuckled.
“Lets begin the next game,” Dinky’s Grandfather quickly replied, pushing Dinky’s cards towards the deck without looking anypony in the eye.
“Oh, I have got to see this!” Big Rig chuckled as he quickly snatched the five cards and looked at them. Almost instantly, he began laughing hysterically as he pointed a hoof a Dinky’s grandfather.
“Well, what is it?!” Grain snapped.
Without saying a word, Big Rig tossed the cards down revealing the ten of spades, spades jack, queen, king, and finally, the ace of spades.
“I hate this game…” Dinky’s father grumbled as everypony in the room laughed.
“So… what do you wanna do now?” Dilvent asked with a heavy sigh.
“We could play a game of cards,” Carrot Top offered, taking a moment away from the bowl of chips she was cradling like a foal.
“Yeah, I’d like to keep my bits to myself for once,” Dilvent nervously chuckled as he looked back towards the room where most of the adults were playing poker. “Anything else?”
“Can I see your room?” Shooting Star asked a little timidly, drawing everyponies attention.
“Why would you want to see his room?” Derpy asked with a small chuckle.
“I just thought it would be nice to see the rest of the house is all,” Shooting Star huffed, before snapping back at the gray mare with a scowl. “I did almost miss the bathroom completely, no thanks to you!”
“I-I guess there’s nothing wrong with that,” Dilvent replied hesitantly before standing back up. “Just, uh, don’t touch anything, okay?”
“Okay?” Shooting Star replied with a slight bit of hesitance. Both Derpy and Carrot Top couldn’t help but giggle, knowing why the stallion had given the warning.
After walking down a nearby hall and up a flight of stairs, the group stopped outside of the first door to their right.
“Now remember,” Dilvent began, pulling a small key out of one of the pockets on his coat. “Don’t touch anything before asking me. Some of the things I have are a bit… dangerous?”
“Why do I get a bad feeling about this?” Shooting Star asked the two mares behind her. Each simply turned away with a slight giggle as they shrugged, neither wanting to ruin the slight surprise Shooting Star was about to receive.
“Now then,” Dilvent forcefully chuckled as he pushed the door open with a hoof. “Welcome to the armory.”
Both Derpy and Carrot Top could barely hold back their laughter at the complete look of shock on Shooting Star’s face as the group entered the surprisingly large room.
“This actually isn’t all of them,” Dilvent chuckled as he used his left hoof to draw everyponies attention to the rooms left wall. The entire structure was covered in a mass assortment of blades, swords, daggers and everything in between.
“What in the name of Celestia is all this?!” Shooting Star blurted out as she looked at the wall of weapons.
“My collection,” Dilvent said with a small blissful sigh and a gleam in his eyes. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Wonderful?!” Shooting Star blurted as she eyed a strange blade that held a strange saw like addition to the back of the blade. “It looks more like you’re preparing for war!”
“Uh… no I’m not,” Dilvent replied with a slightly worried look. “I-I mean… they’re all registered, and some have been specifically enchanted so that they couldn’t harm anypony…at least…they should be.”
“R-right,” Shooting Star stuttered as she sat down with a look of confusion and amazement.
“My dad tried to arrest, Dilvent the moment he saw this room,” Derpy chuckled, looking at a new addition to the wall. “Something about excessive… this or that.”
“Why… why do you have all these?” Shooting Star questioned as she looked over at Dilvent with a worried glace.
“Well, it’s part of my special talent,” Dilvent replied as if everypony should know. “It also could be considered my hoard… but that’s the dragon in me.”
“I-I thought your talent had something to do with dragons?” Shooting Star wondered as she pointed toward, Dilvent’s flank.
Unlike most pony cutie marks, Dilvent’s was slightly different, more like that of a zebras in its tribal like nature. It was that of a blood red dragon while it wrapped itself around a matching tribal black blade. While simple in color, it was very intricate in design.
“Well… kind of,” Dilvent replied, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I guess its part of it. But my talent is the ‘subduing’ of magical creatures…with bladed weapons… I think?”
“So what, you know how to kill things?” Shooting Star asked as she paled slightly, taking several steps back.
“Well…yes and no… I mean, there was this Alpha Timberwolf once… but it was the only time… and it was just a survival knife…” Dilvent tried to explain, his face becoming scrunched up in confusion, but it was becoming obvious that he was having slight trouble with it.
“Yes, he knows how to ‘kill’,” Carrot Top ended up replying for the incompetent stallion, moving past Shooting Star and smacking Dilvent softly in the back of the head. “But so would you if your mom was a seventh degree black belt in martial arts.”
“She’s a what?!” Shooting Star shouted, as the subject was changed for a moment.
“A seventh degree black belt,” Derpy chuckled at Shooting Star’s look of shock and confusion. “Didn’t you notice all the trophies and pictures on the bookcase downstairs?”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool,” Shooting Star said breathlessly, taking a moment to collect herself.
“Right, so you’ve seen my room, let’s head back downstairs,” Dilvent quickly said, leading everypony out of his room and locking the door behind them.
“Also,” Dilvent began to point out as he followed the others back to the living room. “You don’t kill through martial arts, it’s for defense only.”
Back downstairs, everypony was surprised to see Dinky playing with a small pile of plastic poker chips as Light Breeze kept putting them in small piles for her.
“Looks like somepony won the pot,” Dilvent chuckled as Derpy went up and scooped her daughter into a hug.
“Your father wanted me to tell you that he is now planning a trip to Las Pegasus,” Breeze chuckled slightly. “I smacked some sense into him for you.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure he’ll probably need some more,” Derpy giggled as she set Dinky down so the foal could continue to play.
“You know, for a police officer, your dad has a bit of a gambling problem,” Shooting Star commented as she took some time to inspect several photos and trophies. There were several photos showing Light Breeze in the middle of a class with other ponies wearing white garbs and black belts and mass assortment of trophies, ranging from tournaments to presentations.
“Those are from a few years back,” Breeze said as she pointed to a few photos. “I haven’t been to a class in some time actually.”
“You’ve taught, Dilvent then?” Shooting Star questioned.
“Yes,” Breeze replied with a nod. “If you want and its okay with your parents, I may not be a certified instructor, but I could teach you a few things.”
“Yeah, sorry, but that’s not my thing,” Shooting Star nervously chuckled moving as far away from the elderly mare as possible.
Derpy couldn’t help but laugh as she quickly realized that Light Breeze would have loved a chance at being allowed to ‘teach’ her son’s ex-bully some of the moves she knew.
“Why does nopony ever want to learn martial arts?” Breeze muttered as she left the room.
“At least you get to tell her no,” Dilvent grumbled as he took a seat nearby Derpy and Dinky. For several moments nopony spoke as they watched Dinky continue to play with the poker chips.
(o^o)
“I wonder what these are made out of?” Dinky thought to herself while her mother stacked them up high for her again. She was disappointed that she couldn’t continue playing with her grandfather, but she still enjoyed her time with him though.
She especially liked it when the older pony said she was mommy's friends mommy, it had made her grandpa's head go 'thunk' on the table.
“So, did you win big, Dinky?” Dilvent asked as he looked at her tower of chips that she was told several times not to eat.
“Grandpa’s planning a road trip!” Dinky crashed her hooves into the tower of chips, giggling as several hit the surrounding ponies.
“Dear sweet Celestia,” Dilvent chocked out. “My heart can’t take the cute!”
“And you call yourself a stallion,” Carrot Top replied, but even then, she seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Dinky.
“Mommy says to only use my powers for evil.” Dinky purposely made her way to Carrot Top and offered her a poker chip.
“Curse you and your cuteness,” Carrot Top chuckled as she leaned down a nuzzled Dinky with a giggle.
(6_9)
“I’m telling you honey, if you had just let me keep my bit bag, we could of been so much closer to that trip to the Fillippians.” Derpy’s father said as they made their way home.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Derpy replied with a sigh and roll of her good eye. Looking past Dinky, who slept soundly on her back between her wings, she looked at her father. Unlike most times, where the stallion would be walking beside her, he was currently laying on his back in Dinky’s small wagon, mumbling about winning bets and too much salt.
“You are the epitome of a role model, you now that dad?” Derpy asked with a quiet chuckle.
“I am a god amongst mortals!” the stallion called out to no one before his face turned slightly green and his stomach began to growl in an irregular way. “Sweetie, quick, tell the driver to pull the carriage over!”
“Just turn your head to the left dad,” Derpy called back, slowing down slightly.
“I have taught you well,” Derpy’s father responded before his evening meal greeted him once again.
“Your left dad,” Derpy replied without looking back. Normally, a pony would be scolding the stallion for going as far as he had, but Derpy knew her father barely ever had any fun of his own, plus the sounds he was making made it obvious that he was paying for it.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Derpy’s father responded as the sounds stopped and he finally pulled himself out of the wagon. “Sorry you had to pull your dad around in that wagon.”
“It’s alright, dad,” Derpy replied as she looked back at the stallion. While he still looked a little green, he had at least cleaned himself up enough to not look like a complete idiot.
“So, I almost forgot to ask,” Derpy’s father asked out of nowhere with a smirk. “How did, Shooting Star handle dragon colts ‘collection’?”
“Well, she didn’t tackle him to the ground and try to arrest him if that’s what you’re asking,” Derpy said with a slight smirk.
“I regret nothing,” the stallion replied with a smirk of his own. “But that colt really does have an unhealthy fascination with those things.”
“Yes he does,” Derpy replied blankly.
“Should I arrest him?” her father asked with a serious face.
“Maybe later,” Derpy chuckled as their house came into view. “It would be a great prank to pull on him.”
“That sounds fun,” the stallion replied with a mischievous grin.
Sharing a laugh, Derpy led the way back into the house, leaving the wagon in its usual spot. Chuckling as her father stumbled his way to his room, Derpy quietly worked her way into her own room so Dinky could rest in her foal bed.
“I guess you had a lot of fun today,” Derpy quietly giggled at the sleeping foal. She was slightly worried at how things would turn out this evening, but Dinky had fun, Shooting Star was tolerable, and her father was still conscious after spending some time with an old friend.
“Maybe I should set something up for him,” Derpy said to herself while shutting the lights off and getting into bed. She couldn’t help but worry that her father didn’t have many friends, so any time he did spend with others was good in her book.
Before she even realized it, Derpy was waking up to a bright sunny day and a giggling foal on her chest.
“Dinky, how did you get out of your bed?” Derpy asked the giggling foal. Derpy could only watch in shock as her daughter’s horn began to glow a soft amber light before the giggling foal disappeared in a flash.
“Dinky!?” Derpy shouted as she jumped out of the bed and looked all around the room.
“What is it, what happened!?” Derpy’s father shouted as he rushed into the room with a black baton in his mouth. Almost immediately he dropped his weapon and clenched his head in pain. “Too early for yelling… uhg.”
“Dinky disappeared in a flash of light!” Derpy shouted as she rushed to her closet and started throwing everything out of it in worry and fear. “What if somepony took her?”
“Did her horn glow beforehoof?” the older stallion asked as he continued to rub his head.
“Yes, why?” Derpy quickly looked at her father in hopes for an answer.
“Unicorn foals do this sort of thing all the time,” her father groaned. “You won’t believe how many calls a day we get when this stuff happens. Just calm down for a second and lets look around the house, she can’t be far.”
Then they heard the toilet flush.
“Good distance,” Derpy’s father muttered as he followed his frantic daughter to the bathroom.
“Dinky!” Derpy called as she rushed into the room, finding the young foal playing with the toilets handle. Before she could reach the foal, Dinky once again disappeared in a flash of light.
“How long is this supposed to go on for?!” Derpy yelled at her father as the worry began to take hold even more.
“I think it’s for their first few years, but I’m not certain,” her father shrugged as he drank strait from the nearby sink. “But don’t worry so much, she’s too young to be able to do much and by what I do know, it tends to focus around just one spell or whatever they call it.”
“Y-y-years…,” Derpy mumbled as she stumbled out of the room to find her teleporting daughter.
“Or was it a few days?” Derpy’s father quietly asked himself as his daughter disappeared around the corner. “Oh well, at least she doesn’t have to look in every cloud in a three block radius.”
“Three…” Derpy mumbled out before she let out a large yawn.
“All I said was good morning,” Dilvent chuckled as he and Carrot Top looked at the half asleep mare. The entire morning had already gone bye, and this was the first coherent word the Pegasus had made all day.
“The secret is cinnamon…” Derpy mumbled as she began to eat her notebook with an exhausted stare.
“Why is she eating her notes?” Mrs. Dian asked as she made her way over towards the group. They were currently researching the meaning to a group chosen song and its connection to everyday life.
“Do you know the muffin mare?” Derpy groggily asked the teacher, a slightly loopy grin on her face.
“She’s been like this all day,” Carrot Top groaned, flailing her right hoof in an exaggerated manner. “We haven’t even chosen a song yet.”
“I think I know what’s going on,” Dian said as she took a good look at the groggy mare. “Dinky’s been having magic spurts hasn’t she?”
“She just keeps teleporting!” Derpy groaned as she seemed to collect herself slightly. “All weekend and throughout the night! I wanted to go to the library, or even come ask you, but it just keeps happening!”
By the end of her rant, Derpy was yelling and had drawn the entire room’s attention.
“That’s what she said!” a stallion from one side of the room replied, earning a carouse of laughter from most of the room.
“She also said you have detention today as well,” Mrs. Dian told the student with a frown. “Now get back to the assignment.”
“So, what do I do?” Derpy asked, ignoring the comment.
“For one, you can calm down a bit,” Dian chuckled while resting a reassuring hoof on Derpy’s head. “Magic spurts are a very common thing in a foal. While I won’t bore you with the detail, since we will be covering that lesson closer to the end of the year, its basically a release of built up energy in the foal.
“Now, what I recommend is going to the local pharmacy and getting a foal friendly horn resin,” Dian said as she levitated a quill and piece of paper over to the group. Taking a moment, she quickly wrote down what looked like several different brands before giving it to Derpy. “Any one of these brands will work, but it they are only to be used before she goes to bed.”
“How come?” Dilvent asked as he looked at the list; only to be ignored as the teacher moved on to help another student. “Or ignore me completely, that works too.”
“Because the kind of resins Ms. Dian put down basically block all magic from escaping through the horn,” Minerva, said as she took the list for herself. “They don’t stop the body from producing magic, so I’m sure you know what happens to a body with too much magic in it?”
“Well,” Derpy sighed, laying her head down on her desk. “At least I’ll be able to actually get some sleep then.”
“How come your dad didn’t tell you about this?” Carrot Top asked, frowning slightly. “If these do what they say, I can bet they use it on drunk unicorns they have locked up.”
“He’s too busy laughing at it all,” Derpy groaned.
“Yeah…” Carrot Top chuckled, looking back at her lesson book. “That sounds like him.”
(o^o)
*Poff*
“Now, Dinky!”
*Poff*
“I wanna teleport!” a young earth pony colt whined as Dinky flashed from next to him to the other side of the room. For almost half the morning, the young foal had been flashing from place to place. Luckily though, an enchantment had been placed on the room to prevent young foals from teleporting out.
“Poff, poff, poff, muffin!” Dinky couldn’t help but giggle as she kept flashing away, stopping only when she ended up back at the table for lunch and her muffin. She may not know how she was doing it, but she did find it really fun.
“Well that was fun, right everypony?” Miss Lemonway asked with a slight chuckle.
“No,” the same colt groaned. “I wanna teleport…”
“My mommy said that I did it too,” Lily chirped with a smile before frowning with a look of confusion. “But I don’t know how to do it now.”
*KNOCK KNOCK*
“Come in,” Lemonway called to the door. After a moment, the door cracked open and Derpy slowly made her way into the room, yawning as she closed the door.
“Good afternoon, Derpy,” Lemonway greeted as the young mare walked over to Dinky and gave the filly a nuzzle.
“Hello everypony!” Derpy greeted with a smile. “How’s lunch?”
“Muffin!” Dinky simply held up her half eaten pastry as the other foals chimed in with a mixture of acceptance and complaints.
“Actually, Derpy,” Lemonway began. “I was actually hoping to talk to you about, Dinky’s lunch.”
“Is something wrong with it?” Derpy asked as Dinky and the other foals continued to eat.
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Lemonway chuckled. “I was actually wondering if you wouldn’t mind making more muffins for the rest of the foals and parents for next week’s family day.”
“Family day?” Derpy asked as the other foals suddenly became very excited.
“Just a day where everypony’s family is invited to spend the day with the foals and see what they do throughout the day,” Lemonway replied as she grabbed a small flyer and brought it to Derpy.
“My mommy and daddy are coming!” Lily happily squealed as the other foals began to show their happiness.
“I guess I could…” Derpy said with a little hesitance. “I’ll have to miss a day of school though.”
“I can write you a note if anypony asks,” Lemonway giggled.
“Does that mean we get to have a muffin for lunch?” High Lane asked, sounding hopeful.
“What kind do you want?” Derpy asked, smiling at the colt’s anticipation.
“I want a chocolate muffin, with chocolate chunks, and chocolate frosting with…” the colt began to reply, only to stop and give a sheepish smile when everypony looked at him.
“Okay then,” Derpy giggled. “But I don’t think my dad can make it.”
“You can bring a friend or two if you want,” Lemonway said with a smile. “But only two. This is a family day thing after all.”
“How does that sound Dinky?” Derpy asked the little foal.
“Family day, family day, family day!” Dinky began to hop up and down once again in excitement.
(9_6)
“No, Dinky, don’t wipe it,” Derpy told the pouting filly. While the pout made Dinky cuter then should be legal, Derpy had only just finished applying the horn resin.
At first, Derpy was a little hesitant using the resin on the little filly’s horn, but the pharmacist at the store said it was 100% foal safe and that the most they would feel would be a slight numbing. Derpy’s hooves actually felt a little numb themselves when handling the resin.
“Darn and I was hoping for another night of surprise visits from my grandfoal!” Derpy’s father chuckled as he walked into his daughter’s room.
“Sorry dad, but some of us could use an actual night of sleep,” Derpy replied as she put Dinky in her little crib bed.
“So who told you about the horn resin?” her father asked with a chuckle. “Cause I know it sure wasn’t me.”
“Mrs. Dian told me today in health class,” Derpy said as she hoofed Dinky her plushy version of herself.
“It’s good to see that your willing to ask for help when you need it,” her father replied. “And not just from me.”
“Well, I was falling asleep in the middle of class,” Derpy sheepishly replied.
“Reminds me of when I was still a desk jockey and you were releasing all that foal energy yourself,” her father openly laughed.
“Then maybe you wouldn’t mind giving some advice every now and then,” Derpy asked with an innocent smile.
“When you need it, I’ll always be there to help you sweetie,” he replied with a smile as he gave Derpy a goodnight hug and Dinky a goodnight nuzzle.
“Night dad,” Derpy said as her father left the room.
“Night you two,” he replied as he disappeared towards his own room.
* * *
“I can’t make it,” Minerva said as she continued to read from her book. “While I’m sure it would be loads of fun to hang out with a gaggle of foals, I’d rather go to school.”
“that’s okay,” Derpy sighed; a little disappointed that Minerva couldn’t make it to Dinky’s family day. She originally wanted to bring her and Carrot Top but it looked like she was dead set on staying at school.
“Hey, I’m still goin so it’s bound to be fun!” Carrot Top said with a smile.
“What about, Dilvent?” Minerva asked, indicating the silent stallion behind them all. “He loves foals, so why not?”
“I’d like to, but I’m a little hesitant to go,” Dilvent cut in with a slightly uncomfortable look. “One wrong question or answer and I have a room of worried parents and foals.”
“Then let them worry!” Carrot snapped with a frown. “If they have a problem with you, they can bring it up with my hoof!”
“Can we not get violent at this,” Derpy sighed. “I really don’t want another instance like at the theater to happen again.”
“That pony was asking for it!” Carrot fumed, her face scrunched up in annoyance. “Aint nopony gonna tell me I can’t bring my own carrots into the theater!”
“You didn’t need to bite him,” Minerva pointed out.
“I think we’re getting off topic here,” Dilvent pointed out with a chuckle.
“Nopony messes with my carrots!” Carrot Top shouted, drawing the rooms attention and a round of laughs from her friends.
“So,” Derpy began as everyone began to calm down. “Are you going to be there or not?”
“I guess I’ll go,” Dilvent replied with a sigh. “But if things go bad, I hold the right to use Dinky’s cuteness as a shield.”
“You use my daughter as any sort of shield and I will personally rip your wings off,” Derpy replied with a giggle and a smile.
“And I’ll rip it off and turn you into a unicorn,” Carrot continued with a smirk, causing the others to fall silent.
“I worry for the stallion that tries his luck with you,” Dilvent replied with a shaking in his voice.
“Why not try your own, then?” Carrot replied with a wink towards the stallion.
“The bell rang,” Minerva pointed out as she left the room.
“Then its decided!” Derpy said with a smile. “You two are coming with me to Dinky’s first family day!”
“Yay!” Carrot Top cheered, clapping her front hooves together.
Dilvent remained silent as he stared at the orange maned mare in a mixture of shock and fear.
“Dad…” Derpy grumbled as she stared at the scene in front of her. Her daughter was currently surrounded by several pots and pans and was being given a set of wooden spoons from her father.
*CLANG!* *BANG!* *CLANG!*
“DAD!” she tried to yell over the sounds to no success.
“Its just like when you were her age,” Derpy’s father said with a reminiscent look in his eye. He stood nearby, listening to Dinky bang away for a few minutes before continuing. “And like you, it’s obvious her talent isn’t in music.”
Derpy couldn’t help but smile at her father’s comment. “That still didn’t stop you from getting me drum lessons.”
“And you would have been great,” he replied as he carefully took back Dinky’s drum sticks. Rather than pout, the foal simply giggled and then proceeded to push one of the larger pots towards Derpy.
“Not even a year old and you’re already having her clean the house,” somepony chuckled, drawing Derpy’s attention to the room’s entrance and the orange maned mare standing in it.
“Hi Carrot,” Derpy greeted her friend as the mare made her way into the room. Close behind her followed Dilvent, Minerva and, to Derpy’s shock, Shooting Star. “What are you doing here?”
“Carrot Top invited me,” Star replied with a slightly hopeful smile, trying her best to hide the tremor in her voice. “My dad said it would be okay as long as I brought back a muffin for him.”
“Lazy stallion,” Derpy’s father grumbled as he took a seat in a nearby chair. “Doesn’t want to come see an old friend but is willing to send his daughter out to get him food.”
Nopony paid the older stallion any attention since he had proceeded to reach half heatedly for a nearby glass of water, only to give up quickly. “Derpy, sweetie! Daddy can’t reach his water!”
“And this is who we count on to protect and serve,” Dilvent said as he pushed the glass the necessary three inches closer to the stallion. “You are a role model to us all.”
“I try,” Derpy’s father replied with a smirk and a wink. “Don’t worry, maybe one day you’ll be as great as me.”
“As long as I don’t get as round as you, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Dilvent replied with a smirk of his own.
“OOOhhhhhh!”the mares replied with smirks and giggles.
“Okay,” the older stallion nodded. “I can see when I’m not needed.”
“Ah, come on dad,” Derpy chuckled as her father got up to leave.
“No,no,” He replied with obviously fake sniffles and crocodile tears. “It’s obvious I’m too old to hang with you youngins.”
“It’s okay Mr. Hooves, we’ll make sure the nurse gives you extra taters with you meal tonight,” Carrot chuckled as the stallion smiled and made his way out of the room with a chuckle.
“So, we gonna make muffins or what, cause I already call dibs on the mixing spoon afterwords,” Dilvent proclaimed with a smile, only for it to falter as he noticed Dinky currently using one of said spoons as a chew toy. “Or she can have them, that works too.”
“So, what’s the occasion,” Shooting Star asked as she looked around the kitchen for a moment.
“Tomorrow, Dinky’s daycare is going to have a family day,” Derpy said as she placed the aforementioned filly on her back. “The mare in charge of her class asked me if I would make some muffins for the day.”
“And that’s why we’re all here,” Minerva replied as she began to pull out mixes and measuring tools with her magic. “I thought it would be nice if we all helped make these for tomorrow.”
“Well, that’s nice,” Shooting Star said as she decided to help as well. “I do have to admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve had a, Hooves family muffin.”
“Beware all ye who feast here, for this is not food; but a plague, one that can never be sated!” Dilvent said with a chuckle as he began cracking open some eggs. “Those poor foals.”
“So,” Carrot Top began, taking a seat by one side of the room and watching as everypony else began to work. “What kinda numbers we talkin about here, cause my aunt and uncle want some extras too.”
“Plenty,” Derpy chuckled. “But they have to take them from Dinky’s adorable little hooves to do that.”
As if in reply, Dinky proceeded to hug Derpy’s head from the mares back, gurgling and giggling cutely in the process.
“My heart… it can’t take… the cute,” Dilvent grunted from his area, as he fell to his back in an exaggerated manner. As he lay there playing possum, Dinky flashed away from her mother and appeared just over the stallion. Landing with a giggle, everypony couldn’t help but laugh as the stallion became slightly winded from the impact.
“Et tu, Dinky, Et tu?” Dilvent wheezed before grabbing the filly and blowing raspberries in her belly.
(o^o)
Dinky couldn’t help but giggle loudly as Dilvent blew into her belly. This continued for several minutes before her mother took her from the stallion and placed the filly on her back.
The filly continued to giggle even as she was taken over to a nearby counter that had an assortment of different ingredients.
“All the sprinkles!” Dinky raised her forehooves in joy as her mother placed her in a nearby high chair.
“Okay muffin, what should we put in first?” Derpy asked as she placed small portions of several different items in front of Dinky.
Dinky stared at the items in front of her for several moments. There were strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, sprinkles and several other items the filly loved.
“Choose the carrot,” somepony whispered in Dinky’s ear, a carrot being added to the group of items. The filly couldn’t help but giggle as she looked to the side to find Carrot Top standing right next to her chair.
“Choose the carrot,” Carrot top repeated, nuzzling Dinky’s cheek.
“I doubt a room of foals will want a healthy carrot muffin, even if their parents do,” Minerva pointed out with a grin. “Plus, I don’t remember, Carrot coming in with any carrots or there being any in the fridge.”
“No carrot!” Dinky decided to push the carrot away, causing it to fall to the ground.
“My baby!” Carrot Top cried out as she quickly scooped it up and cradled the carrot like a foal, ignoring the giggles and laughs from the others in the room.
(9_6)
“So, do you think four dozen will be enough,” Derpy asked the others of the group. They had just finished wrapping the last plate of muffins and had plenty of muffins left for the others.
“There’s still time for carrot ones,” Carrot Top said as she held her carrot out for the tenth time that night.
“Enough with the carrot already,” Dilvent groaned, grabbing the carrot and ate half of it in one bite with a loud crunch. The stallion adopted a slightly curious look on his face as he ate the carrot. “This carrot doesn’t taste right.”
“Carrot!” Derpy snapped looking at her smirking friend.
“I never told him to eat it,” the mare sang as she left the room with a little bounce and a bag of muffins.
“Carrot’s not…?” Minerva began, trailing off with a slight blush.
“No…” Derpy replied with a groan. She was only glad that Dinky had decided to go to sleep a short while ago.
*Crunch*
Everypony still present stopped at stared at Dilvent as he continued to eat the carrot as if nothing happened. “If we continue to react, it simply means that she has won.”
“Okay… I gotta head home,” Shooting Star said with a slightly annoyed look. “Thanks for letting me join you and for the muffins.”
“Want me to walk you there?” Dilvent asked as he finished the carrot. “Its on my way.”
“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Star purred, batting her eye lashes as she led the way out with her own bag of muffins.
“Uhg… I need more male friends,” Dilvent sighed as he followed the mare out. “See you tomorrow, Derpy.”
“Bye everypony,” Derpy called as she was left with Minerva and a sleeping foal.
“I better start heading out too,” Minerva sighed. “I got some things I still got to take care of.”
“Okay,” Derpy said as she hoofed over the last bag of extra muffins. A few minutes later, Minerva was gone and Derpy was alone with her sleeping daughter.
For a few moments at least.
“Any left for dear old dad?” Derpy’s father asked as he made his way into the kitchen. He was just about to grab one of the wrapped plates before his hoof was slapped away by his daughter.
“Sorry dad, but those aren’t for you,” Derpy sternly told the stallion. “The ones in the fridge are for you.”
“That’s my filly,” her father replied with a smile as he went to the fridge and pulled out a bran muffin. “Is this your way of calling me old?”
“Old, senile… full of gas,” Derpy said with a giggle.
“Well, at least you cared enough,” her father said as he began to eat the muffin.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come tomorrow?” Derpy asked as she took a seat and cradled Dinky in her forelegs. “You could take a sick day and join us.”
“While I would love to do that, I just can’t,” her father sighed. “But don’t worry; I’m planning a big trip. Just the three of us, how does that sound?”
“I guess thats okay,” Derpy replied with a sigh of her own.
“Well, if anything happens, don’t be afraid the get ahold of me,” her father said as he gave his daughter and sleeping granddaughter a kiss goodnight.
(Carrot)
“Its so big!” Carrot Top drooled as she stared at the sight before her, a giant smile on her face. The object of her dreams now towered before her, the sunlight reflection off it perfectly.
“I want it inside me!” Carrot shouted as she jumped forward, wrapping her hooves around the two story tall carrot in front of her. “Get. In. My. BELLY!”
“Brussel sprouts.”
Carrot Top was so entranced by her giant carrot, that she missed the whisper in the wind. Up until the carrot suddenly disappeared from her grasps.
“My carrot?!” the mare yelled as she began to look around for her lost prize. Within moments, her eyes locked onto something that sent a chill down her spine.
Just a few feet away, stood a five story tall Brussel sprout. Its size and girth blocking out the sun and casting a cold shadow over the mare.
“Noooooo…”
* * *
“…oooo!” Carrot shouted as she bolted forward, bashing her head into something with a solid thunk.
“Oh sweet mother of Celestia!” Dilvent groaned as he fell to the ground, clutching his snout in pain. “What is your head made of, cement?!”
“I had it in my hooves!” Carrot shouted as she threw her covers off, revealing that she was in a pair of ducky pajamas.
“I thought you got rid of those,” Derpy giggled from the rooms entrance.
Carrot fixed her friend with a scowl, ready to make a retort, only to fall silent when she noticed Dinky on her back. “Dinky!”
Before Derpy could stop her, Carrot jumped off her bed, using Dilvent as a spring board, and snatched the foal from her mother. Nothing was said as Carrot nuzzled the little filly continually for several moments.
“We should really be going,” Dilvent groaned as he stood up.
“Just let me get cleaned up,” Carrot smirked as she gave Dinky back to her mother. The moment Derpy and Dinky left the room, Carrot quickly closed the door.
“I’m still in the room, Carrot,” Dilvent groaned as he tried to make his way out.
“I know, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute,” Carrot Top replied with a serious look. “You do realize there will be other parents there?”
“Yeah, and?” Dilvent asked as Carrot got really close.
“So I need you to stick next to Derpy the entire time we’re there,” Carrot continued as she looked him in the eye.
“Was basically planning on that, but I bet that’s not why you’re telling me this,” Dilvent replied as he took a step back and sat on the edge of Carrot Tops bed.
“It’s not,” Carrot Top sighed, thinking back. “The first day I met, Dinky, it was on Derpy’s trip to the store. I remember that there was a slight incident when, Dinky noticed a couple and their foal.
“It was really brief, but I know that she noticed it,” Carrot Top said with a sad sigh. “Aside from your parents, Dinky hasn’t had much interaction with full families and I’m a little worried that it might affect her. While I’m not asking you to go around saying you’re her dad or anything like that. I’m just saying that it would really help if you could at least act like you’re her father figure, for today at least.”
Dilvent remained silent for several moment, a slightly shocked look on his face. “Have you talked to, Derpy about this?”
“No,” Carrot sighed. “I didn’t want to worry her today, so I didn’t say anything.”
“Okay…” Dilvent replied as he sighed a little. “I guess there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Great!” Carrot replied with a smile.
Adapting a smirk, Carrot spun around and raised her flank toward the stallion, giving it a wiggle. “Now, would you mind helping me with my PJ’s. They tend to get stuck at the base of my tail.”
“I’m out!” Dilvent yelled, launching himself out the room’s closest means of escape.
Dilvent winced once again, continuing to poke idly at the small cut on his cheek.
“Stop poking at it before it gets infect,” Derpy chastised her friend, still highly annoyed by his actions from a few minutes ago.
“I say let it happen,” Carrot scowled from her position besides Dinky and the red wagon. “I’m stuck having to work at my uncle’s shop this weekend to pay for the window you broke!”
“I said I’d pay for it,” Dilvent groaned back as the group continued to travel down the street. “Besides, how did you expect me to act when you shove your butt in my face?!”
“Like a stallion,” Carrot smirked, giving Dilvent a small wink.
“Okay you two, stop flirting,” Derpy interrupted with a giggle. “We’re almost there.”
“We are not flirting!” Dilvent snapped with a light blush and wide eyes.
“Don’t worry, Derpy,” Carrot reassured with a look of confidence, pushing her way to the front of the group. “I got this!”
* * *
“I don’t got this…” Carrot mumbled as she looked around the amazingly packed room. But it wasn’t the other ponies that caused her to worry and become uncomfortable.
“Why aren’t there any carrots?” Carrot Top whined as she looked her eyes to one of the many veggie trays the other families had brought.
“Some of the parents thought they would be too hard for some of the foals to chew Miss Top,” Miss Lemon Way replied as she walked over to the group of younger ponies. “Thank you all for coming.”
“Thank you for having us,” Derpy replied as she moved aside from the doorway, allowing Dilvent to walk in with the wrapped tray’s of muffins.
“Oh, Miss Lemon Way!” Dilvent suddenly smiled, noticing the older mare.
“My, my, if it isn’t little Dilvent,” Lemon Way smiled, taking the trays from the stallion as he moved in for a large hug. “Look how much you’ve grown.”
“Uh… am I missing something here?” Carrot asked, a look of shock and confusion on her face.
“I was Dilvent’s caretaker when he was very young,” the mare replied before giving a final squeeze and releasing the stallion.
“Back when I was in the orphanage, she was one of the regular volunteers and was one of the only ponies that actually paid any attention to me,” Dilvent smiled warmly. “I’d hate to see where I would have been without her.”
“Oh stop, you’re making this old mare blush,” Lemon Way replied with a sheepish smile. “You should have seen him back then though. Such a little colt.”
“Awwww,” Both Carrot and Derpy sighed with little smiles.
“Excuse me!” a nasally voice suddenly huffed from the doorway, drawing the groups attention.
Moving to the side, Derpy and the others watched as a plump, well dressed unicorn mare and stallion walked into the room with a small brown unicorn colt trailing behind. All three had their noses held high as they walked through the room towards one of the empty spots.
“Who’s that?” Derpy asked, looking at the three.
“The mare is Lady Facemare and the stallion is Lord Kettle Pots,” another voice answered, drawing everyponies attention to a stallion closer to their age. “The colt is Snap shot. My mother, father and youngest brother respectively.”
“Oh, yes thank you all for coming,” Lemon Way smiled with a slight nod.
While the new stallion and the teacher began to trade pleasantries, Derpy found herself staring at the stallion.
His coat was a light blue and his mane was a almost chrome like silver, a horn just bearly being hidden by it. His large golden eyes were locked on the teacher but held a stock of confidence and inner power.
Even his build drew the mare’s eye as she could see well developed muscles just barely showing from under his coat. She was so entrapped that she didn’t notice Carrot Top staring almost as hard as her.
“Uh… Derpy, Carrot?” Dilvent asked waving a free hoof in front of the gray mare’s face. “You two okay?”
“W-what?” Derpy stuttered out, unable to look away from the stallion. Watching as he moved to join his family.
“Hot…” Carrot almost panted, her eyes locked on the stallion’s back side.
“Snap Shot is one of our newest additions,” Lemon Way replied, looking at the two mares with a slight smirk. “They just moved into town.”
“O-oh…” Derpy absentmindedly replied, finding it almost impossible to look away from the stallion. If she were being honest with herself, she found the colt very attractive.
Very, very attractive.
(o^o)
Dinky continued to eat from the muffin Dilvent was offering to her. For some reason, her mother kept getting distracted by one of the other ponies in the room and a part of her didn’t like it.
It wasn’t like the pony had done anything to her, but she couldn’t help but notice that every time either her mother or Carrot looked at him, Dilvent would look mad.
“More!” Dinky opened and closed her mouth, waiting for more food to be given.
“Such a greedy little filly,” Dilvent chuckled as he hid the muffin behind his hoof. “No more for the tubby filly.”
“More!” reaching out, Dinky tried to climb up the stallion to get the sugary treat.
“Everypony freeze!” a pony suddenly shouted, causing Dinky to jump slightly in fright as well as causing her to reach her treat.
“I got the carrots!” Carrot Top continued to shout as she dropped a large collection of carrots onto the table besides the filly and the others. “Everypony can stop panicking!”
“No pony’s panicking, Carrot,” Dilvent grumbled as he tried to retrieve the treat from Dinky.
“Mine!” Dinky pulled the muffin away from the large stallion, giggling as he tried to tickle it out of her.
“Good, good,” Carrot replied absentmindedly, taking one of the carrots and staring over at the same pony Derpy was.
“Oh for the love of Celestia,” Dilvent grumbled as he looked down at the confused filly. “At least you pay attention to me.”
“Muffin?” Dinky simply held up her half eaten, drool covered treat, hoping to cheer the stallion up.
“Aww, that’s cute,” the same pony her mother and Carrot Top had been staring at commented as he walked over to the group. “She yours?”
“M-mine actually,” Dinky’s mother stuttered back, her face glowing slightly as Carrot Top stared in slight shock, her uneaten carrot sitting in her mouth. “I-I mean, she’s mine, but I didn’t have her… I mean, I-I adopted her… and, uh…”
“Can I help you?” Dilvent interrupted, scowling at the stallion.
“I’m sorry, and you are?” the stallion asked, looking at Dilvent with a raised brow. The confusing thing to the filly though was that the response just seemed to anger Dilvent.
“I-I’m Derpy, Derpy Hooves,” Dinky’s mother stuttered out, reaching a hoof out to the stallion.
“I don’t like him!” Dinky was beginning to dislike this new pony. He made her mommy and Carrot act strange and he made Dilvent angry and sad.
(9_6)
“I’m Golden Harvest,” Carrot added, taking her carrot in hoof and holding the slightly wet veggie out to the stallion. “But everypony calls me Carrot Top… would you like a carrot?”
“Thank you, I quiet like carrots,” the stallion replied, taking the carrot from the mare. The two mares were still so engrossed in the stallion that neither of them noticed him fling the carrot into a nearby trash can with his magic.
“My name is Nair Light,” the stallion offered, taking hold of Derpy’s hoof and giving it a kiss.
“N-nice to meet y-you,” Derpy replied with a growing blush. She couldn’t help but feel her heart trying to explode out of her chest as the stallion talked to her.
“You still haven’t told us why you came over here,” Dilvent seemed to growl out as he glared daggers at the stallion.
“Well, if you must know, I wanted to meet some of the other foals that my young brother will be spending his days with,” Nair Light replied, giving the stallion a smile. “Is there something wrong with being friendly.”
“Yeah Dilvent, he’s just being friendly,” Carrot Top smirked, pressing herself against Nair Light. “Why don’t Derpy and I show you around?”
“Y-yeah, I know a few of the foals and parents,” Derpy stuttered out moving to the stallions other side.
“That sounds wonderful,” Nair smiled as he began to walk off, both mares in tow.
(^.=.^)
“What the bu…” Dilvent began staring as his two best friends wondered off with the strange new stallion. A large part of him wanted to yell and complain, but he was not in the position to allow those feelings out.
“I did not see that coming,” Miss Dian said as she walked up beside Dilvent and Dinky.
“Hi Dinky, Hi Mr. Dilvent,” Lily chirped from beside her mother and a large dark coated thestral.
“H-hello,” Dilvent replied, pulling his gaze away from his retreating friends and turning to the others.
“Hello there, I’m Sgt. Night Eyes,” the thestral immediately replied, holding a hoof out for Dilvent to shake.
“This is my husband,” Mrs. Dian introduced before turning to her husband. “Dear, this is Dilvent and Dinky, two of the ponies I was telling you about.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Dilvent replied, shacking the stallions hoof while Dinky stared at the pony in fascination.
“Likewise,” Night Eye replied with a nod before looking down at the little filly. “Hello there little one.”
(o^o)
Dinky couldn’t help but stare at the strange stallion that stood next to her friend. He didn’t look like any pony she’s seen before with his weird ear tuffs, slit pupils and strange looking wings.
She could even see little fangs sticking out of his mouth, like Dilvent.
“Daddy, this is my friend Dinky,” Lily told the large stallion. “Her mommy is the one who makes the really yummy muffins.”
“Muffin?” Dinky perked up at the mention of her favorite snack, suddenly remembering that she had been eating it originally.
“Here you go Dinky,” Dilvent chuckled as he produced her snack as if by magic.
“Yay, muffin!” Dinky giggle joyfully as she snatched her snack out of the stallions hooves and began to nibble on it.
(^.=.^)
“Mommy, can I have one?” Lily asked as she saw her friend eat.
“Of course sweetie,” Mrs. Dian smiled before looking at Dilvent. “Want me to watch Dinky? Derpy seems a little… preoccupied?”
“No, that’s alright, I got her,” Dilvent shrugged before looking back at his friends. The two mares were still with Nair, currently talking to a family of earth ponies. Rather, Nair was talking and Derpy and Carrot were staring at him again.
“Don’t let it get to you colt,” Night Eyes told the young stallion with a supportive pat. “We all get jealous sometimes.”
“I’m not jealous,” Dilvent instantly replied, slightly startled. “I’m just worried about my friends. I mean, we don’t even know who that pony is and suddenly, their giving him these gaga eyes.”
“While its nice that you’re looking after them, don’t let this little thing get to you,” Dian giggled. “For all you know, this will be the only time any of you see him.”
“I hope so,” Dilvent mumbled to himself, shooting another glare at the stallion. For a split second, he could have sworn Nair was smirking towards him.
(9_6)
“While it was lovely spending time with the two of you,” Nair told his two escorts. “I need to meet back up with my parents and brother. Have a good evening, ladies.”
“B-bye,” both Derpy and Carrot Top stuttered as they watched the stallion trot away.
“W-wow,” Carrot Top giggled as she leaned towards Derpy’s ear. “Did you see him?”
“Y-yeah,” Derpy replied with a mild blush.
“Are you two done drooling yet?” Dilvent asked, shocking the two mares. “Because we’re here for Dinky, not to swoon.”
“Oh hush you,” Carrot snapped, sending a glare to the stallion. “Your just jealous that he’s cuter than you.”
“S-sorry,” Derpy sheepishly replied. “I-I don’t know what came over me. I just kinda got caught up with… that.”
“Right,” Dilvent replied, staring at the two of them blankly. Dinky sat on the stallions back, a half finished muffin in her hooves already covered in drool.
“He’s so jealous,” Carrot Top stage whispered to Derpy.
“Not funny Carrot,” Dilvent groaned as he looked at his two friends. “Is there anything else to this thing besides just standing around and talking?”
“A couple of games actually,” Miss Lemon Way chuckled as she joined the small group. “The first is actually a scavenger hunt in the back yard of the daycare.”
“What do we get if we win?” Carrot suddenly asked with a critical eye, her competitive spirit emerging. “Bits? Toys? Awards?... Carrots!?”
“Uh… I was gonna give out some participation ribbons to the foals…” Lemon Way replied uncomfortably, staring at the mare. “B-but I can get you a piece of candy if-“
“Done!” Carrot Top shouted, causing the entire room to jump in shock as she looked around the room. “You are all going down!”
“Do you know that mare?” Dilvent asked as he gave Dinky back to her mother.
“Nope,” Derpy replied with a giggle.
(o^o)
“Okay little ones, here’s what you need to do,” Miss Lemon Way began as she gave each foal a piece of paper with several pictures on it. “All you need to do is find everything you see on the paper and you win.”
“What do they win?” one of the other parents asked.
“One of these,” Lemon Way replied, holding out a shiny blue ribbon that sparkled in the sunlight. It was a little thick and made a small crinkling noise as it was moved around.
“Shiny!” Like most of the other foals there, Dinky reached out for the new object, wanting it sooner rather than later.
“Don’t worry, Dinky,” Carrot whispered into the small foal’s ear while holding her close. “We’ll win you that ribbon and I’ll get my candy.”
Dinky simply giggled in return as she looked at the pictures she had.
“Remember everypony, this isn’t a competition,” Lemon Way began.
“Yes it is,” Carrot whispered with a slight smirk.
“Just have fun!” Lemon Way finished with a smile, moving aside to let foals and their parents enter the surprisingly large yard the daycare had.
“Okay, lets go!” Carrot Top just about shouted as she rushed off on her own.
“Think she realizes she doesn’t have a list?” Dilvent asked Derpy as the filly looked up at the two.
“Nope,” Derpy giggled back before looking down at Dinky. “What do you want to look for first, muffin?”
Dinky looked at her mother for a moment before looking back down at the paper she had. There were plenty of pretty pictures.
“Flower!” Dinky pointed at a small yellow flower at the side of the paper, gurgling slightly at it.
“Let’s go find it then,” Derpy smiled as Dinky took the paper in her mouth and began to rush off in a random direction.
(^.=.^)
Dilvent stood back and watched as Dinky and Derpy wondered off into the large yard of the daycare, heading towards a sandbox instead of the small garden that was in a different direction.
“Aren’t you going to join your friends?” a slightly familiar voice asked from behind the stallion, causing him to jump slightly.
Adapting a slight scowl, Dilvent sighed as he turned to look back at Nair Light.
“Because I’d rather let the two of them have their time together,” Dilvent replied curtly, before turning away from the pony.
“Cool, cool,” Nair nodded, stepping up beside Dilvent and taking a seat. “So… what are you anyways? Cause you have fangs but you don’t look like a thestral.”
“Pony,” Dilvent replied, unable to hold back a chuckle as he noticed Dinky begin to dig in the sandbox instead of looking for a flower.
“That’s surprising,” Nair chuckled. “So… she yours?”
“What?” Dilvent asked, looking back with a raised brow.
“The foal?” Nair replied, pointing to the pair in the sand. “I just wanna make sure you know.”
“Why?” Dilvent asked.
“So she’s not yours, I take it?” Nair asked. “So, are you two together or what?”
“What… n-no!” Dilvent stuttered out looking at the stallion angrily. “Why the hay are you asking that?!”
“Just wanted to ask,” Nair smirked as he stared towards Derpy. “She is cute though.”
(9_6)
“Okay sweetie, I think that’s enough playing in the sand,” Derpy chuckled as she picked up her daughter and placed her on her back. “Lets go find that flower.”
As the filly giggled in reply, Derpy took a chance to look towards her friends to see how they were doing.
Carrot was still on the search for random items. At one point, she had acquired Derpy’s wagon and now had a pile of random items filling it. Including a small giggling foal, the parents standing nearby with amused, worried and slightly confused looks on their faces.
But when she looked over at Dilvent, a sudden chill went down her spine.
Nair was looking towards her and Dinky with a slight smile. But the scowl and look her friend was giving the stallion caused her to worry. His eyes were no longer the rounded ones usually found on a pony, but a thin slit, showing his heritage. She had only seen these eyes once before, back when she and Carrot Top first met the stallion and he had saved them from some pushy seniors.
“Dilvent?” Derpy called, hoping to catch his attention and find out what was wrong. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to hear her as he continued to stare at the pony next to him.
“Hold on muffin,” Derpy said as she scooped the filly up and placed her on her back. She really worried that something was wrong with her friend especially since his glare was at the pony next to him.
“Hello, Derpy,” Nair greeted as she trotted up to the two.
“H-hello,” Derpy stuttered with a sheepish smile before forcing her gaze towards Dilvent. “D-Dilvent, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Dilvent mumbled as he got up. “I’m going to go make sure Carrot Top doesn’t get arrested for foalnapping.”
“Are you sure?” Derpy asked, still concerned.
“Yeah… yeah, just something somepony said,” Dilvent replied, shooting another glare at the stallion beside him.
“Someponies can be very rude and inconsiderate,” Nair replied with a shrug. “Its best to just ignore them since all their looking for is attention.”
“Whatever,” Dilvent groaned, leaving the group.
“Sorry about him,” Derpy couldn’t help but tell the stallion, feeling a little embarrassed now.
“Its no problem,” Nair replied with a calming smile. “But you should get back to the game before your friend ends up getting it canceled.”
“Right…” Derpy replied, looking back towards Carrot. The mare was now being pulled away from a buried plastic post by Dilvent, screaming something about it being needed.
“I could join the two of you if you want,” Nair offered. “I’d be with my brother but my mom said something about cats and sand, so now he doesn’t want to join in.”
“Uh…” Derpy replied in shock. “S-sure… I-I mean…”
“NO!” a voice suddenly shouted.
Turning to look towards her friends to reprimand them, she was slightly shocked to see both Carrot Top and Dilvent staring at her in shock. The mare still gripping the post with the stallion holding a hind leg in the air in a failed attempt to pull her away.
“NO!” Was shrieked again, this time clearly coming from Derpy’s back.
“Nonononononono!” Dinky began to continually shriek, bouncing up and down on her mothers back.
(o^o)
“NO!” Dinky huffed, pouting as she stopped her hopping. She didn’t like the pony her mom was talking to. She made her mom and Aunt Carrot act weird and made Uncle Dilvent sad.
“Dinky, you said your first word!” Derpy all but shouted as she scooped the filly off her back and brought her into a hug.
“No!” Dinky replied, finding it easy to say and enjoying the sudden attention from her mom.
“Uh… congradula-“ “NO!” Dinky interrupted when the stallion she didn’t like tried to speak. Several times he tried to speak again, only for the filly to interrupt with a firm “No”.
“No,” Dinky said once again, now giggling at how much she enjoyed saying it.
“I’m just gonna head inside,” the stallion sighed before finally leaving Dinky and her mother alone.
“No!” Dinky cheered as the stallion disappeared inside as Carrot Top and Dilvent rushed over with smiles. “Yay, more hugs!”
“No!” Dinky giggled as Carrot took her into her own hug.
(9_6)
“Oh my Celestia! Dinky, you spoke!” Carrot Top cheered as she hugged the giggling filly. “You spoke, you spoke, you spoke!”
“No!” Dinky chirped back.
“Congratulations,” Mrs. Dian said as she and Lily walked up to the group, Night Eye trailing behind carrying a few different objects.
“Mommy says my first word was “More”,” Lily chirped happily.
“Mine was “carrot”,” Carrot added, drawing blank looks from everpony but Night Eye for obvious reasons.
“I’m surprised it was “no” though,” Lemon way stated as she also joined the group. “I would have thought it would be “mamma” or “muffin”.”
“”Muffin”, “mamma” or “no”, I’m still proud of her,” Derpy replied taking the filly back and giving her a nuzzle.
“Just be sure to help her learn some other words,” Lemon Way replied with a smile. “If you don’t, I’ll have to hold Dilvent accountable.”
“Uh… what?” the stallion replied looking at everypony as the mares shared a giggle.
* * *
“Once again, I’d like to thank everypony for coming today,” Lemon Way said, giving the ponies a warm smile. “Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to spend it with your foals.”
“Thank you Miss Lemon Way!” The foals and some parents replied loudly.
“No!” Dinky called out with a smile.
“Please don’t be afraid to join us all again any day of the week,” Lemon Way continued with a smile. “Have a good day everypony.”
With that, everypony began to leave with only a few holding back to talk to others.
“Thanks for letting us attend this Miss Lemon Way,” Derpy told the daycare teacher as her group gave her their final farewells.
“And thank you all for coming,” the mare smiled back. The smile faltering slightly as she noticed carrot top shoving several pieces of candy into her mouth as well as half a carrot.
“It was really nice to see you again Miss Lemon Way,” Dilvent added as he gave the older mare a slip of paper. “This is my address, so please don’t be afraid to visit. Mom and Dad would love to see you again and I’d like to catch up.”
“I will, thank you,” Lemon Way replied as she gave the stallion another hug before looking to the little filly with the group. “And don’t be giving your mommy any trouble.”
“No!” Dinky yelled back loudly, giggling soon after.
“Goodbye,” Derpy finished as she led her group out of the room and building.
They were all surprised to find Nair waiting outside, standing beside Dinky’s red wagon.
“Found this still sitting in the back,” the stallion smiled. “Thought you would want it back.”
“Oh, I forgot about that,” Carrot Top replied around her mouth full of sweets and carrots. “Thanks hot stuff.”
Before the stallion could react, Carrot proceeded to shove a full carrot into his mouth, giving him a wink as she took the wagon.
“T-thanks,” Derpy added as she set Dinky in her spot. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you too,” Nair replied after removing the carrot from his mouth and turning to the other older ponies. “You as well, Dilvent.”
“Whatever,” Dilvent muttered under his breath as Carrot giggled and blushed softly.
“I hope our paths cross again,” Nair smiled as the group began to leave.
“So do I,” Carrot whispered to Derpy with a smirk as the group continued forward.
* * *
“Say “grandpa”,” Derpy’s father cooed to the small filly, having scooped her up when he heard her speak.
“No!” the filly giggled, pushing against the large stallion.
“She said it! She said “Grandpa”!” Derpy’s father proclaimed holding the filly up.
“He’s showing the signs of mental instability, Derpy,” Carrot chuckled. “We better notify the hospital to get a padded room ready.”
“Carrot?!” Derpy exclaimed looking at her friend with shocked eyes. “What kind of pony do you take me for?”
“I always knew you loved me swee-“ the older stallion began.
“I had a room set up years ago,” Derpy continued, cutting off her father’s statement.
“You still love grandpa, right Dinky?” the old stallion asked the filly in a mock hurt tone.
“No!” Dinky replied instantly, wiggling her way out of the stallions grasp and making for her mother.
“Betrayed by the cute one,” Derpy father lamented sadly before looking at the only quiet one of the group.
Ever since the group had returned to the house, Dilvent had remained silent. His facial features continually shifting from annoyed, to worried and back again.
“What’s got you all winded up, colt?” the older stallion asked looking to the others for guidance.
“He’s just jealous,” Carrot replied.
“N-no, I’m not!” Dilvent snapped back refusing to meet anypony in the eye.
“There was this cute colt who showed up with his family and he’s jealous that we spent more time with the colt then him,” Carrot smirked.
“Really now?” the stallion replied with a raised brow and concerned look. “Both you and Derpy?”
“Yeah,” Carrot sighed with a look of blissful remembrance. Dilvent groaned at the comment and Derpy blushed slightly.
“Dilvent, my office!” Derpy’s father suddenly proclaimed, rushing away with a slight scowl.
“You don’t have an office,” Dilvent grumbled as he followed after the stallion.
“Should we be worried?” Carrot asked as she watched the two disappear.
“No,” Derpy giggled back.
“Should we tell them that Nair is gay?” Carrot giggled.
