Derpy and Dinky, mother and daughter, spend their last moments together, until the end.
Dinky sits beside her mother's side, Derpy, whom now lays on her death bed as they spend their last few moments together, reflecting upon the past and cherishing their life here and now, mother and daughter, together, as a family.
Silence was the only essence in the house as the two looked into each other's eyes... sort of. Derpy, whom now lay on her death bed began to speak in a ragged voice, "Dinky," She coughed roughly after.
"No mom, save your energy. Your gonna liv-" Dinky pleaded until she was cut off by her mother.
"Dinky Doo, we both know that's not true, not even a miracle could change that," Dinky sobbed quietly into her mother's arms. "But to have found you, and raised you as my own as a mother was perhaps a miracle itself."Derpy grinned to her daughter and examined her for probably the last time. She was on the brink of going from fillyhood to marehood.
"But it's not fair!" Dinky cried to her mother as Derpy stroked her mane.
"Dinky, now I have learned more than anypony that life isn't fair. How do you think I felt when everypony made fun of me and my eye problems?" Dinky nodded in understanding. "Now Dinky, you're almost a full grown mare and promise me, that you,"Derpy placed her hoof on Dinky's chest."Will go on when I'm gone, promise me." Derpy did her best to eye daughter, but as always her eyes drifted off.
"I promise mom." Dinky replied as she wiped her tears away. "I just wish, you could have seen me grow up to be a strong responsible mare like you." Dinky mumbled.
"But you already are, you've got plenty of friends and an amazing education. Trust me Dinky, you'll be an even better mare than I ever was because..." Derpy huffed as her eyes began to flutter shut. "You're my daughter." She finished as her eyes closed shut.
"I love you mom." Were the last few words Derpy heard before the world around her darkened and the image of her daughter faded away.
Dinky looked to her mother one last time before shutting her eyes and thinking back to the day when Derpy had found her and so on from that special event.
(15 Years Ago)
Knock!Knock!Knock!
"Coming!" Derpy called out as she rested the muffin filled tray upon her dining room table. Muffins had been the only thing that kept her from her sorrows of being bullied by other pegasi and earth ponies alike. Laughing at how she had cross eyes and couldn't fly right. Derpy let out a sigh before pushing the wooden door open. Nopony was there. "Oh well", She thought to herself before beginning her way back to the muffin baking at hand before she heard a light cry. She turned very slowly to the door she'd mistakenly left open. There before her was a little basket carrying... a sleeping foal unicorn. Derpy could tell it was a she already. The foal's mane was yellowish-tan, Like Mine?, she thought to herself and so was the foals coat. A lightish-gray color. Might as well be my daugter- She chuckled to herself before her eyes suddenly widened at the realization of her new responsibility.
"I have a dau...daughter." Derpy muttered quietly. Then it turned into a scream of pure delight. "I HAVE A DAUGHTER!" Apparently this sudden outburst awoke the sleeping foal who now looked to Derpy. "I'll call you," She thought for a moment. Derpy's real name was Ditzy Doo, "So I'll call you, Dinky Doo!" The foal smiled with delight upon hearing this name.
"Dinky Doo." The little foal blathered. Dawww! Derpy cooed in her mind.
"And I'm Mommy." Derpy placed her hoof on herself. Once again Dinky began.
"Mommy? Mo~mmy. Mommy." Dinky giggled upon learning of this new word. After a minute or two Dinky dozed off to sleep as Derpy took in a breathe, then smelled her muffins. She looked from the dining room, where her hot crispy muffins await her, then looking to Dinky, who was snuggled comfortably in her basket. Family First! Derpy chimed in her head as she picked up the basket Dinky was in very carefully up to her room.
Dinky slowly walked around the house looking to the dining room table which drew her attention from the light that illuminated the room. There on the table was one muffin with a large candle in the middle. Dinky slowly walked up to it while remembering the first muffin she ate, the one made by her mother.
(14 Years Ago)
"Come on Dinky it's time to get up." Derpy cooed to her daughter who lay in her miniature bed. "Guess what day it is?" She continued as Dinky rubbed her eyes groggily.
"Um..." Dinky muttered quietly, not knowing what her mother was talking about before Derpy cheered.
"It's your birthday!" This surprise made Dinky jump into the air while screaming "Yay~!"
"Now let's go downstairs Dinky, I have a surprise for you." Derpy whispered into her daughter's ear. So Derpy scooped up the little unicorn then trotted on down to the kitchen. As soon as they reached the table Derpy placed her daughter into a chair and then pulled out something out from oven.
"Hey Dinky," Derpy began cheerfully.
"Yes mom?" Dinky replied, swelling with anticipation.
"Want a muffin?" Derpy asked as she turned to Dinky holding out one large, warm, crispy muffin in her hoof.
"YES!" Dinky screeched as she reached for the muffin then grabbing it from her mother's hoof then nibbling on the gigantic morsel. Derpy let out a burst of laughter before leaning over to Dinky.
"Happy Birthday Dinky Doo." Derpy said one last time before ruffling the Dinky's mane and taking out a muffin for herself as they both spent the rest of their breakfast in a muffin filled bliss.
Dinky blew out the candle on top of the muffin then pulled it off. She began nibbling at it as she had done when she was just a one year old foal until she noticed card on it. It had the picture of their house, Dinky, her mother, Ponyville and the school with the little fillies around it. She began to stare at the school picture, thinking of her fillyhood when she went to school and was asked that one question by the filly with the diamond tiara.
10 Years Ago
"How can you be a unicorn while your so called mom is a pegasus? Huh?" Diamond Tiara questioned mockingly shortly after school, while Dinky pondered on the thought, not liking where this was going. "Unless, she's not truly your-" At this point Dinky set off in a gallop to her home to ask her mom for herself, unable to bear how Diamond Tiara would finish. Dinky slowly opened the door to the house.
"Mom, you there?" She called out, to be greeted by Derpy who poked her head out of the kitchen.
"Hey Dinky! How was school?" Derpy asked, and Dinky replied happily at first.
"It was great! Miss Cheerilee was talking about Family Appreciation Day and then she asked me if you can come in for that. So can you!?" Dinky pleaded, looking into the eyes of her mother.
"Of course I can! Now let's go have some muffins!" Derpy exclaimed as she marched to the kitchen, until Dinky pulled on her tail then said.
"One last thing."
"Yes Dinky Doo?" Derpy replied.
"After school, Diamond Tiara asked how I am a unicorn and your a pegasus and how we're mother and daughter." Dinky explained. Derpy, who now stood frozen in place.How could I have forgotten to tell her when she was younger!? She screamed in her mind then let out a sigh.
"Dinky, I need to tell you the truth." Now it was Dinky's turn to be frozen in place. Her ears wide open, ready to listen to what her mother had to say, but her heart, completely unprepared. "I am not your mother by birth, I found you one day by the doorway then raised you as my own. But-" Dinky cut her off.
"No," She spoke loud and clear, tears streaming from her eyes. "NO! You're not my real mother, and you never were!" Dinky screamed at her mother for the first time then galloped out the door, leaving dirt in her wake as well as the broken heart of her mother.
Dinky slowly opened the card, within it revealed a letter from her mother, probably as a farewell will. The unicorn wiped away what tears she had left before and began to read.
Dear Dinky I write to you my last few words because I probably never had the chance to tell you as I lay on my death bed now. I wanted to let you know that since you were a foal, I have always loved you, never once doubted my motherly feelings for one second even when we had our little arguments, and even when we had the worst of rambles.
Dinky took a moment to stop reading to wipe newly formed tears, and at the same time thinking back to the day she learned the truth about how Derpy came upon her also the day she ran away.
(11 Years Ago)
Dinky just kept galloping to what lied ahead of her, not a care in the world for what it was though. Blinded by tears and rage she suddenly crashed into a tree, then falling flat on her back, unconscious upon the patch of soft green grass below it.... Slowly, and groggily, Dinky's eyes fluttered open. The fading yellow-orange sun was setting as a figure stood above her.
"Howdy there partner!" An orange cowpony jumped up in front of her.
"Gah!" Dinky jumped back in surprise, then rubbed her eyes to see more clearly. Then after noticing it was just another pony she let out a sigh of relief.
"Um, hi there I'm Dinky Doo, nice to meet you." Dinky forgot of her anger and sorrow from before.
"Ah am Apple Jack, Apple Bloom's big sister. Ye know her right?" Apple Jack began. Dinky nodded in agreement to Apple Jack's question. "Well, are ye alright.? A few seconds ago ye were lying here unconscious." Apple Jack continued.
"Yah, just fine," She replied, until her stomach rumbled. "Well sorta, hehe." Just then Appe Jack bucked the tree beside them and caught an apple.
"Here, ye can have some. It's on me," Apple Jack gave Dinky a warm, almost motherly smile while Dinky took a bite out of the apple, until she curiously asked, "Shouldn't ye be with your mom Derpy right now?" Just then Dinky let out a huff then muttered angrily.
"She isn't any mother of mine." And with that, the little unicorn took one last bite from the apple then set off once again on her runaway. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter6: "Cutie Mark Crusaders Sleepover!"
(Present Day)
Dinky continue reading the letter once again. But through it all, we overcame our problems together, as a family, with friends and most importantly as a team. The word team rang in Dinky's head for a moment as she recalled that little team of fillies who worked together to find their special talents. Dinky knocked on her head, trying to remember what they were called before it all came back to her.
(11 Years Ago
"We're the CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" The trio of fillies shouted in unison. Dinky Doo knew all of them from school. The red-orange one with a magenta mane was Scootaloo. The white filly with a cotton candy colored mane was Sweetie Belle, and the yellowish-tan one was Apple Bloom.
"Oh hi guys," Dinky mumbled shyly. The sun had already faded and the twilight hour was upon them. "So, what are you guys doing today?" Then all of a sudden Scootaloo began.
"We're having our 'Cutie Mark Crusaders Sleepover!'" The red-orange pegasi smiled at her. Then Sweetie Belle added
"At my sister Rarity's house."
"Wanna come, seeing how you don't have your cutie mark either." Scootaloo finished pointing to Dinky's blank flank.
"Sure, I don't have anywhere to go tonight anyways. Thanks guys!" Dinky replied, then giving them all an ear to ear smile. And so, she joined the Cutie Mark Crusaders on their way to Rarity's place. When they arrived, Dinky noticed it was a shop, with a sigh written in script. 'Carousal Boutique'. As they stepped up to the door, Sweetie Belle pulled the rope with her mouth which rang the bell. When the door opened, emerging from the door was a mare with a white coat and an amazingly styled blue-purple mane.
"Hey sis, were ready for the sleepover!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Rarity let out a sigh of annoyance, but let the fillies in none the less until Rarity asked.
"Who's this filly with you girls?" Dinky began to get nervous, until Apple Bloom stepped up.
"Oh, she's Dinky Doo, she's from our school and just wanted to join us for the night. Ye wouldn't mind, would ye?" She pleaded.
"Oh, fine." Rarity huffed as the trio began planning their crazy ideas, even Dinky joined in for part of it. They played many games as well as attempting new ideas such as dress making (Which Rarity highly disapproved of) and giving manicures for Rarity (Which ended up horribly). Along the way, Dinky felt a deep connection with the three fillies. Like sisters, though not related. Dinky pondered on this new thought while they settled in for bed for the night, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter7: "I have a mom!"
(Present Day)
And though we are not biologically related, I still and always consider you my daughter.
Love
Mom
Dinky was now in tears as she finished the letter, her mother's last will to her. We shall always be family. While she considers me her daughter, I don't care what anypony else says. She is my mother. Dinky recited in her mind as she finished her memories as a filly.
(11 Years Ago)
"Bye guys!" Dinky called out to the crusaders as she trotted off to an unknown destination, and eventually .... she arrived at the door of her school. But it wasn't school just yet, it was the last day of the weekend. So Dinky trotted off in the opposite direction, until she heard a familiar voice call.
"Dinky Doo!" She turned around to see Miss Cheerilee motioning her to come back. And so she did. "Dinky, your mother has been worried sick about you." Cheerilee began.
"Yah, so what?" Dinky said, trying to sound as if she didn't care.
"So what? She's your mother Dinky, no matter if you aren't related or not. A mother is a somepony who loves you, takes care of you. It matters little if she is not a blood relative, the only thing that matters is love." Cheerilee concluded as she let Dinky recollect her thoughts. Maybe Cheerilee' is right. And I do have a mom. The word mom chimed in her head, since she was a foal, that is what she considered her. Dinky didn't even know her mom's true name, and without a mom she wouldn't have anypony to care for her and love her like her mom did.
"I have a mom." Dinky whispered at first. "I have a mom." She spoke louder until she shouted it out loud. "I have a mom!" And with that the filly galloped on home. "Thank you Miss Cheerilee!" Dinky called out.
"Your welcome Dinky, don't forget about Family Appreciation Day tomorrow!" Cheerilee replied.
As soon as Dinky arrived at her door step. She slowly opened the door.
"Mom?" She called out quietly as she stepped in. There, huddled in a dark corner... was Derpy. Her mane ragged and messy, and her coat just the same and her eyes... tear stricken. Dinky walked up to her then placed a hoof upon her mom's back, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry mom!" Dinky cried into her hooves all of a sudden while falling to her knees. "I hope you can forgive me." Dinky sobbed even louder, waiting for a reply until she was met with the warm embrace of her mother's hug.
"I never hated you in the first place Dinky Doo. I just knew you were confused and angry and I understood that and I also should have told you about how I got you when before." Now Derpy began sobbing.
"It's okay mom, I forgive you too." And so, through the day, the two pony family told each other of their mistakes and their forgiveness to each other as Derpy's broken heart was mended, Thanks to my little Dinky Derpy thought to herself as she left the room to make muffins for dinner.
Dinky held the card in her mouth as she walked up to her mother's body, then sat there staring at her. Derpy's coat was darker than usual and grayer. Like that one day. Dinky thought to herself, remembering how her mother acted that one day after school.
(8 Years Ago
Dinky, along with the other fillies exited the school building upon hearing the bell ring, but something was strange about Ponyville as Dinky trotted on her way home. Houses and buildings alike upside down? Bunnies with long legs in stampedes, and chocolate rain? Dinky was now dumbfounded at the new scenery. Wacky Day possibly? She thought to herself until the sun vanished and the moon took it's place in a snap.
"Woah, woah!" Dinky fell over, her hooves barely able to stand now due to the soapy roads. This is, this is like what Miss Cheerilee said. Confusion. Evil! CHAOS! Dinky shuddered at the thought of what happened at home, Oh No! Mom's at home! She screamed in her mind as she raced across the checkered plains of grass to her house. Luckily her house wasn't upside down. Dinky let out a sigh of relief before opening the door.
"Hey mom, you there?! Hello~!" Dinky called out as she walked through the house. She entered the kitchen then took a muffin she saw laying on the dining table then finally decided to go to her mom's room. Dinky gave the door a light push and it opened slowly. Derpy, who sat on her bed, muttering angrily about something Dinky couldn't make out. Her coat was darker than usual, which frightened Dinky.
"Mom?" Dinky said, then like a rocket Derpy shot off the bed and landed right in front of Dinky.
"You be quiet right now Dinky Doo! Don't you see I'm stressing my ass off trying to figure something out!" Dinky fell back startled upon her mother's sudden rage. "Do you know how hard my life is? It's all goodie good for you with your little school and that whore Cheerilee!" Dinky was now quivering in fear, she had never in her life, heard her mother curse like this before, and never in front of her. "Well you know what? I'm done with you for the day!" And with that Derpy smacked the muffin out of her daughter's hooves then began to stomp violently on it. At this point Dinky was sobbing between her hooves, waiting for it to be over. "Now go to your room you little pest, no dinner for you!" Derpy shouted at the little unicorn who now trudged to her room and shut the door, then sobbing into her pillow immediately after.
Dinky sat there beside her mother's body for what seemed like an eternity until... the door in the front creaked open and from it emerged a cyan blue pegasi. It was none other than Rainbow Dash. Dinky knew her from her amazing weather duties that the mare was known for, but at the moment, the only thing Dinky payed attention to was her rainbow mane. It reminded her of that one rainbow explosion.
(8 Years Ago)
Dinky stared up to her cloud themed ceiling as she wallowed in a puddle of her own tears. How could this have happened? She asked herself over and over, until coming to a conclusion: nothing. Dinky felt that her life had been ruined in the blink of an eye, until there was a sudden explosion as she looked out the window. Outside, a rainbow colored ring circled Ponyville than turned into a dome of light, then everything was white. Suddenly Derpy entered the room.
"What was that?!" Derpy asked out loud, her coat was back to normal, and so was her personality, Dinky seemed to notice before jumping onto her mother.
"I missed you so much!" Dinky hugged her mother for what seemed like forever until Derpy said,
"I didn't mean any of those mean things I said before. It was, I, ..." Derpy was silenced as her daughter placed her hoof upon Derpy's lips.
"It's okay mom, I forgive you!" And with that, the two went back to their normal lives until they were called upon for a celebration at the Canterlot Castle.
"Hmm, I wonder what it's for." Dinky said while they sat in the train sticking their heads out of the window then arriving shortly at the train station in Canterlot. Together they gazed at the fancy buildings, so different from Ponyville, then finally making it in time for the celebration, where six mares walked along a red carpet to Princess Celestia herself. The two looked at each other before continuing the celebration, everything just peachy.
"Hey kid, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for your loss and that Derpy was a good friend of mine, so.." Rainbow's eyes were beginning to look teary at this point. Just then Rainbow turned around then made a barely audible cry before flying off. Rainbow Dash, cry? For Dinky it was unheard of, the only time she remembered them actually being around each other was when Derpy messed up town hall, then...
(5 Years Ago)
"Yeah Apple Jack, Woo! Hoo!" Derpy cheered before falling through the hole in town hall flat on her back. Dinky rushed to the ledge.
"Mom, are you okay?" She called out to the gray lump at the bottom of the hole. Then Derpy sat up replying.
"Yes Dinky, I'm just fi-" She couldn't finish as she fell onto her back once again, but this time, not getting up.
"Mom!" Dinky screamed, now in full panic, until a brown colored blur wisped by her. There at the bottom of the hole was an earth pony with a hour glass for a cutie mark. His coat light brown, with a dark brown mane. Dinky wondered how he now stood beside his mother from the dare-devil like jump, unscathed and unbruised from this stunt. He suddenly placed Derpy upon his back before appearing up to ground level in a flash of white light. Huh? Dinky thought to herself as she followed the mysterious pony as he galloped to who knows where. After about five minutes of running, he stopped by in front of the hospital as Dinky, completely exhausted, walked up to him.
"Hello there, thanks for helping my mother." The colt turned to her, as she attracted his attention. "I'm Dinky Doo!"
"Nice to meet you Dinky, and I was glad I could help. I'm The Doctor, but you could just call me Doctor." He gave her a friendly grin as Dinky tried to comprehend the strange name then shrugged it off as they entered the hospital building. When they let the nurses take care of Derpy, The Doctor began his way out before Dinky called out to him.
"Thanks again Doctor, and where maybe I could see you again later." The Doctor then gave her an unsure look.
"Err maybe, maybe..." He muttered as he trotted off. Hmm, Dinky wondered. She looked to her mother who lied in the hospital bed, her eyes closed and her body calm. She'll be fine. Dinky assured to herself as she pursued the Doctor through White Tail Woods. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter10: "Time Lord?"
(Present Day
Dinky began to pursue Rainbow, though she knew she never could catch up. But maybe, just maybe... Dinky thought to herself as she galloped after the cyan blue pegasus. She remembered that time she followed the Doctor and she discovered something that was too complex for her to comprehend at the time as she closed in on the landing place of Rainbow Dash.
(5 Years Ago)
After about five minutes of galloping, the Doctor stopped at a blue rectangular box that had the words,"Police Box: Public Call" Whatever that is. Dinky wondered as she sneaked behind a tree a good seven feet from the Doctor. He looked left and right to check if anypony was there, until finally he opened the door to the blue box and disappeared into it, leaving the door closing slowly just in time for Dinky to stop it and peak in.
"Wow!" She muttered to herself as she continued to gaze at the large room with complicated colors and buttons everywhere, and the Doctor sitting there pushing buttons that caused occasional beeps. At this point Dinky had seen enough as she entered the room, forgetting about her undercover mission she noisily did so. The Doctor turned to her with a surprised look.
"Um, this isn't what it looks like Dinky, it's just, I,.." He let out a sigh of defeat at his loss for words. "I'm a Time Lord." He muttered loud enough for Dinky to hear.
"Time Lord?" Dinky asked curiously.
"A Time Lord is someone whom can travel through the vast reaches of time and space, immortal by birth unless slain." He explained. "The whole time I've been in Ponyville has just been to retrieve parts for my Tardis." He motioned to the entire room.
"Uhhhh, okay then, so then what are you exactly, are you a pony?" Dinky asked, her face was full of wonder and her mind racing with questions that she somehow withheld.
"I can be if I want to, also a huma-" The Doctor cut himself off leaving Dinky in suspense. "Never mind, but the point is that you can't tell anypony about this, is that understand?" He eyed her much like her mother did. Dinky gave nod of agreement before looking to her feet with a saddened expression.
"And I'm really sorry I followed you and all, I just wanted to know really badly." Dinky said shamefully as the Doctor replied.
"It's okay Dinky, I forgive you, just.. There are some things that you really don't want to know." And with that the Doctor motioned for her to leave and so she did as Dinky returned to the hospital where her mother remained. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter11: "Mail from who?"
(Present Day)
Rainbow sat below a tree to avoid the rain that had began to pour. Her face wet with the raindrops and of her own tears. Dinky walked up to her slowly then sat beside her catching her breath after the long gallop. As if Rainbow could read Dinky's mind, she began to speak.
"Your mother, Derpy, when I first saw her.." Rainbow took a moment to take in the memories before continuing. "She was being bullied by those colts who used to bully Fluttershy, but at that time, I didn't have the courage to stand up to them." Dinky looked at Rainbow who now acted like a different pony, then Rainbow looked back. "Dinky, your mother was the bravest mare I'd ever met, and I wish I could have done something and hung out with her some more, ya know?" Rainbow wiped her tears away as she finished.
"Yah," Dinky replied. "Thank you Rainbow Dash. I never knew she meant that much to you." She finished with a friendly grin.
"I just wish that there was something I could've done you know?" Rainbow exclaimed, but Dinky didn't reply, for she was lost in thought at Rainbow's words. Thinking back to that one letter from the Doctor, that sealed her mother's fate.
(4 Years Ago)
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"I'll be right there!" Dinky called out while carrying a muffin tray, she was done with school already and she was home alone while Derpy was at work. So she lay the tray on the dining room table and trotted to the door and opened it. It was her mother.
"Hi Mom!" Dinky greeted while Derpy let her gray hoof out to her daughter carrying a letter.
"Mail!" Derpy shouted happily.
"Mail from who?" Dinky asked while taking the letter than reading the envelope. On it written in pen were the words The Doctor. And Dinky knew what that meant already. "Oh it's from the Doctor." She exclaimed cheerfully.
"Who's that?" Derpy asked with a confused expression,
"Remember that time when you messed up town hall and got hurt?" Derpy nodded. "Well he was the one who brought you to the hospital afterwards."
"Now why don't you read what he said." Derpy offered to her daughter and so Dinky opened the letter and began reading.
Dear Dinky Doo, Hello there! I know it's been about a year already and I just wanted to give you a Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, especially to your mother. Derpy made a barf face then began reading once more. But that is not why I'm writing to you. I have come to warn you of what the future holds for you and your mother. Dinky's eyes were now strained and intent on reading every word, every sentence, every detail right. I am truly sorry to say that the new is not good, not at all. And that it concerns with your mother, Derpy,. Over the next four years she will succumb to horrible disease that has no known cure, and even I do not know of any such thing. From the horrible news I've told you, I beg you, do not waste your last years with her and if you wish, you may tell somepony of this, but I suggest not.
Yours Truly
The Doctor
And Dinky had no intentions of telling anypony, especially her mother. I love her too much to tell her. Dinky told herself as she finished reading the letter.
"So what did he say?" Derpy asked. There was a long silence before Dinky snapped back into reality.
"Oh um, he just said hi and gave us a Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Dinky lied, while trying her best to hold back her tears. Derpy sensed something, but didn't act too fast to ask, it would take some time. But time wasn't on Derpy's side at the moment as the Dinky spent her last few years with her mother, wielding knowledge, yet unable to use it. The Doctor's words now came back to her. " There are some things that you really don't want to know."
