After a long day of adventure Daring rests in a cave only to just cry over a picture of her and her sister. She remembers the pact they both made to hide their identities, the good times they shared together before that and the last time they ever saw each other.
Note: First person reminiscing of Daring Do.
ANOTHER NOTE: If you remember Derpy Hooves is a fan name and her original name was Ditzy Do
Other ponies see me as a lone adventurer who has everything under control. Her fighting skills, her wits, her fears and her emotions. That is all wrong. Right now I'm in a cave staring at a picture of me and my sister... She gave it to me as a birthday present the last time I saw her... The last time we had time to catch up and be who we were... Who we were is way different than what we are now... We grew up in a chateau in a forest just to the west of Ponyville. It isn't Everfree if you're wondering. That is to the east. The forest we lived in was cut off from society. We had packages delivered but that was the only thing. My sister, Ditzy Do, a blond maned grey Pegasus with bubbles as her cutie mark, was just the best and most thoughtful... and sometimes thoughtless sister in the world. You ever wonder how bubbles wander freely when they're in the air? That's how my sister is. She always wandered where ever she went. I knew where to go but it never occurred my cutie mark would help in my line of work. We actually got our cutie marks the same day but... It wasn't as good a day as you think. Me and Ditzy... We sat in our room. It was just a plain room. We had a bunk bed, a window to look out at a clearing where we saw many cute animals, a book shelf with many nonfiction and fiction books, not to mention a toy chest filled with all our dolls, stuffed toys and a few boy toys we had to keep secret from daddy. Yes... That's what I called my father... Always had... Anyways Ditzy and I were playing together with our toys and coloring in our coloring books. I looked to her as I set down a red crayon. "Ditzy....?" I said sadly. "...Do you think daddy's gonna be okay...?" Our father was really sick at the time. Medicine at the time wasn't as advanced as it is now. He was bedridden and we couldn't get him to a hospital but from our grandmothers fortune we had enough to hire a doctor to take care of him.
Ditzy looked over at me giving a smile. I looked deeply into her golden eyes. "Daddy's gonna be fine!" She said. She was always an optimistic mare slash filly. "Mommy said the doctor's gonna make him all better!" I believed her for a while. Although the thought sat in my mind like a rock in a fish bowl. Thoughts of what was happening to my father were scaring me. I set my crayons down and closed my coloring book before climbing into my bed bunk only to cuddle my closest companion Mr. Bunbun. Ditzy must've known how scared I actually was. She climbed into the bed bunk with me and rested her hoof on my blank flank. She turned to the door which was cracked slightly. "Mommy! Can you come in here please!"
And just like that our mother came into our room. Mother had a silvery mane. Silver as in a clean, label peeled clean off can of tomato soup silver. She also had a silver coat and her feathers on her wings tapered off to a darker grey. Some of this is just a guess since... Well... You'll see soon enough. Mother sat on my bed resting a hoof on me. "Daring honey what's wrong?" She asked. Ditzy looked up at her.
"...She's worried about Daddy... She thinks he wont get better." Mother gave a sad aw and picked me up.
"Daddy's going to be just fine. The doctor says he's doing better than he was last week. He may be up on his hooves as early as next week! Maybe even sooner." My mother glanced out the window for a second as I got teary eyed. She was checking the light outside. She never trusted clocks so she never kept them in the house. Weird mare but... A loving one at that. She thinks that a clock would pressure you into doing things fast and mess them up. She wanted chores done thoroughly, always done before sunset. That's how it worked. "Why don't we have some lunch? Looks about that time right now anyways." Ditzy clicked her hooves together. I actually try to mimic it every now and then by taking a few rocks and tap them together with my legs while I click my own... Makes me feel not so alone sometimes. Around book three I did that and Ahuizotl over heard... Surprisingly he offered to talk with me and made me feel better. Sorry if I keep getting off track... I'm actually keeping myself from crying. Ditzy was clicking her hooves together and.... OH!
"Can we have peanut butter and banana sammiches please mommy?" Mother set me down and I grabbed Mr. Bunbun again.
"Well we don't have any fresh bananas yet Ditzy but... Maybe we can just have plain peanut butter and jam? It's the best we can do."
I gave a sigh looking at my soft companion. "...Can I bring Mr. Bunbun to lunch mommy?" I asked. "...I don't wanna let him go..." Momma gave me a smile.
"Sure Daring... I know you're worried and I do know how much you love Mr. Bunbun. C'mon."
I sighed and nodded getting up putting Mr. Bunbun on my back gripping him the best I could with my wings. He flopped down on me almost as if he wanted to give me a hug back making sure I was alright. We both knew I wasn't. I hopped off the bed as Ditzy fluttered her wings and glided off the bed giggling happily. "Yay! I want strawberry jam mommy!" She said. Ditzy loved it while I was allergic... It was either me, Ditzy or mother who carried an allergy shot. Mother looked to Ditzy as we came out to the foyer. A chandelier hung half way between the entrance (Two solid oak wood doors) and a table with a bowl of plastic fruit on it. Just a little laugh in it I was so sick one day I thought those were real and bit into one. Apple and sweet freaking celestia I threw up everywhere. Caused mom and daddy to fly me over to Ponyville hospital.
Speaking of Daddy... In the middle of lunch we were interrupted by the on call doctor... He had a mask on, his stethoscope but in his eyes I could tell something was wrong. We all looked to him as he entered the small dining room. Six pony table. All for the family and those who help with the family. The gardener, the doctor, mommy, daddy me and Ditzy and one for somepony who we either invited as a guest or if they paid to spend a night. "Um... Miss Do? May I have a word with you alone... please?" He asked. Mother gave a nod and left me and Ditzy alone in the dining hall to finish our meal. I didn't want to sit there. A bad taste sat in my mouth and it wasn't the sandwich. I went near the door with Mr. Bunbun on my back and hid away. "...Miss Do... he's getting worse... I fear he could go within the day... Theres.... Theres nothing more I can do... ...Maybe... After you're done here... you should tell them and let them say their goodbyes and leave the house for a while.... I don't want them to be in the house when he goes... Perhaps you should send somepony off to the hospital in Ponyville and have them bring a cart back to haul him off... Perhaps clean every inch of the room thoroughly...."
I pretty much froze. Daddy was gonna die. Mother came back in and saw I wasn't at the table. She looked back at me and gasped seeing tears come to my frozen face. "....Daring I-I didn't want you to hear that!" She said hugging me. I backed away having Mr. Bunbun fall off my back. "Sweetie come to mommy everythings g-gonna be okay!" That's when I saw Ditzy get up from the table and run out. Mom turned around and I went and chased after her. "Girls please! Come back!" Mommy chased after me and grabbed me just as I was about to pass up the table. "Daring please don't do this Daddy's gonna be fine!"
I started to struggle hard enough to just bash somepony's nose (almost had to). "NO! NO DADDY ISNT OKAY HE'S DYING!" I yelled crying. I could hear Ditzy screaming upstairs over my own screaming. I managed to wiggle free and bump into the table knocking it over breaking the bowl of fruit just as I ran upstairs past the doctor who stopped my mother at the middle. I ran inside my room and saw Ditzy already flying out the window crying. "DITZY NO!" I rushed for her but at that time she was rushing for the trees. Just as I flew out a bird ran into her causing her to fall into the forest. I couldn't tell if she landed in the clearing, on a branch or in a bush. As worried as I was I hopped from the window and flew to the ground starting to run towards the tree line. "DITZY! DIIITZYY!!" As I entered the forest I don't know if the gardener had just mowed the grass and watered it a bit too much or if I uh... had an accident but my mind was set on finding my only sister... The only one who I had left to love... Mommy lied right to my face and I lost all respect for her. I ran around where I thought she had landed. I found broken branches, a few of her feathers and a trail of leaves. I found Ditzy crying by a log, her mane a mess and a broken arm. She had her eye closed as she cried hard holding her busted arm. "....D-ditzy... you're hurt...." I sat down next to her and rested my hoof on her lap. Just then my mother came out of the bushes in tears.
"Girls! Ditzy! Daring please don't run off like that! Just look what happened to Ditzy!" She tried picking Ditzy up but my sister screamed loudly in pain. I pushed moms hooves away and got between her and Ditzy.
"STOP IT! DONT TOUCH HER!" Mother backed up fast.
"Y-you're right I'll get the doctor! The gardener can teleport himself to the hospital! I'll have him get a cart for Ditzy just stay here!" I gave no nod as she backed away before turning and running. I looked back at Ditzy and.... I had looked at Ditzy's eyes only to find her golden gazers were cocked. She hit her head so hard one of her eyes went cocked.
"....Ditzy...? Your eyes... your arm... your wings..... Wh-why did you do this....? Why did you run off like that...?"
Ditzy looked to me wincing in pain as she did so. "....D-daddy... he's dying...." She said.
"...You... you heard that....?" She nodded sobbing. "... You told me he would be okay but... mommy lied to me... I know you both said the same thing but.... you.... you tried helping me.... at... at least I found you here.... Why did you come out here...?" She sniffled and hung her head whimpering in pain a bit.
"...I... I go where ever the wind takes me... I feel the wind blow one way and... I-I follow it... It almost never leads me wrong.... But... I feel like a bubble.... free to move where ever I want...." And just like that a few glimmers came to my eye. One from behind me and one from her flank. From behind dirt I could see something on her flank. A little silver line.
"...Ditzy are... you in pain with your haunches or anything...?" She shook her head hesitantly as she closed her eyes back up sobbing. I moved to her side and plucked a feather from my wing before brushing it away. I was almost appalled at what I saw. She had little bubbles on her flank. Her cutie mark. I looked to my flank and saw my little compass rose. I found her fast like I knew where exactly to go. I whimpered a bit as I sat down.
"...Well... We got our cutie marks.... On a day like this where we lose daddy...." I started to sob slightly. Knowing my father would be gone within the night.... but.... what I did next saved me I think... I probably would've been a wreck and lost my mind.
Not even a half hour later I sat in the back of a cart with my saddle bags and Mr. Bunbun. Ditzy was lied down on a floating stretcher being held by the unicorn stallion pulling the cart. Mommy was standing at the side of the cart with tears in her eyes. "....Daring... I... I'm sorry I lied to you..." She said. "...I know you loved daddy and vice versa but.... You... Might be making a good decision going with your sister... I don't want you to see your father in his condition... Its too bad.... just... please... don't let your cutie marks be a grim reminder of this day... " I turned away not answering. "...Just... Take care of your sister... please.... I... I'll..." She actually broke down crying and ran off back to the house.
The cart lurched forward. Ditzy whimpered as her floating stretcher bumped against the wall of the cart. The stallion pulling the cart looked back at us. "Hold on to your sister there missy. It's gonna be a bumpy ride and you gotta make sure she doesn't get hurt any more!" He said. I gave a nod and put a hoof onto the stretcher
As we rode I looked to Ditzy. She looked tired but she was in so much pain she couldn't pass out. "...Don't worry Ditzy... I'll be here for you..." I said. "Now and forever...." I scooted closer and rested Mr. Bunbun on the stretcher next to her. "...Here... you can have him for tonight... if he can make me feel better when I'm hurt you can use him.... I want you to get better fast... anything you want me to do for you I can do it."
Ditzy sniffled a bit glancing over at me without moving her head. "....Can you... Make the owies go away....?" She asked. I gave a sigh.
"...I wish I could Ditzy.... we both need a hug after what we heard from mommy...."
About an hour later I was sitting in Ditzy's hospital room. She was being looked at by doctors to make sure she wasn't seriously hurt. A nurse came in and sat next to me. "Excuse me little filly but... do you want something to eat or drink while you wait for them to finish with your sister?" She asked.
"...Just some juice please... I don't wanna eat anything right now... I lost my appetite from all these emotions..."
"Maybe you want to go talk somewhere? It's always good to talk about these things and never keep your emotions bottled up." She wasn't wrong there... Book four I had another encounter with Ahuizotl after I had stopped off at a market for just a quick food run. I was going to make something in a building I had rented out but as I was going back I saw two fillies playing ball with each other. Ahuizotl tried ambushing me but I just walked right past him with my head hung lost in my own memories. Again he talked with me in my sleeping area and.... well... lets just say I got so welcomed by his company I fooled around with him.... He... Was just like me... Embarrassed as a first timer but glad we could say we did it but.... Enough about that. The nurse got up taking my hoof and we walked into a little office area where she sat me on a desk. "So... Wanna tell me what's on your mind?" I sighed.
"...Mommy told me Daddy was going to be okay... He... he was really sick and at lunch... mommy was talking with the doctor we have and... he said daddy was gonna die... Ditzy... my sister.... she ran away and ended up getting really hurt... She offered to help me when I was worried about daddy and... I'm helping her here..." The nurse gave a sigh.
"...So... You both are here because you're losing your father...?" I gave a nod. "...It's never easy losing somepony you love... I mean your sister fell pretty hard... You saw her eyes were a bit wonky and that's because she hit her head and she has a concussion. She'll be fine but... If she landed any other way you probably wouldn't be here... be nice to her and cherish the good moments you have with her... One day one of you might not see each other as often as you should and it might be too late to see her... I... I'm sorry if this scares you at all..."
"Don't worry... I'm fine... Its true... Um... Now can I get a juice box....?" The nurse gave me a smile and stood up allowing me to get on her back. I climbed on and hugged her. This was a one sided hug but it felt warmer than my own mothers.
I spent most of the night awake. Since this was a time before Princess Luna made her return I was afraid of falling asleep after the hell I went through. I know Nightmare Moon was imprisoned for years and years on end but... she still reached our nightmares to scare the shit out of us... in most cases literally but just as I was about to pass out in a little cot the doctors had set up for me Ditzy called me over. "...D-daring?" She said whimpering. "...Can... You get one of the nurses to get me something to drink please...? And some medicine please....? It hurts again..." I hopped out of the cot stretching waking myself up more.
"...Sure Ditzy... Just... don't cry please." I ran out of the room into the hall. The cold air of the hospital made it almost eerie with the silence of no other ponies around. I went over to the nurses station where a lone nurse sat writing on a few papers. "Um... Excuse me nurse?" The nurse looked down at me. "My sister is in pain and she needs something to drink as well... I was actually gonna go to bed soon too... I don't think I can be awake any longer..."
The nurse got up from her seat and came around to my side taking my hoof. "Alright you just go right to bed then. I'll help your sister until more nurses come alright?" She said. I gave a nod and we started walking towards my sisters room. When we got back in there Ditzy was crying. I climbed into my cot and lied down. "Aw don't cry I know it hurts but you'll be okay soon I promise! Let me go get you that medicine and a juice box just for you!" Ditzy sniffled and held back her tears as the nurse hurried back out of the room.
After that I just zonked out. I passed out until morning. When I woke up I saw a nurse sitting in a chair just waiting for someone to wake up. Either me or Ditzy I guessed. This nurse noticed me awake but just as she got up Ditzy started to cry from the pain she was in. Either that or she woke up from a nightmare because I heard her say "Daddy..." through her tears. I got up and flew just over to the foot of Ditzy's bed. She had more than enough room. I was wondering if they actually would've let me sleep at the foot of the bed.
I looked into Ditzy's eyes. She wasn't wincing in pain just.... sad and scared. As much as I wanted to hug her I know I couldn't because of her casts. The nurse rested her hoof on the bed near Ditzy shushing her. "There there little one... Everything will be okay!" She said.
I gave a sigh. "...She's not in pain... she's crying about our dad..." I said. "...He was sick and... He must've went last night... She has nightmares about bad things after they happen or... so mommy and I think..." I teared up and held back my sobs. I wiped my eyes just as she sat on my cot.
"...Well... I guess that's one less thing I need to tell you... Your uh... gardener apparently sent by your mother told someone here to tell you two your father has passed away... Good news is you are going home today. Your casts are set little Ditzy and your mother should be here to take you home."
Well... She was right about that. Mother came and got us. I flew next to her as she walked with Ditzy on her back. Ditzy held Mr. Bunbun and a juice box. I had my things in my saddle bags along with a bottle of pain meds for her. Mother looked back at me. "Daring darling.... I want you to know I'm sorry for holding you back... You were only trying to help your sister..."
As much as I didn't want to answer I knew I had to. I looked to Ditzy. "...I'm.... sorry I yelled at you... I was mad.... You lied about daddy being okay...." I said.
"I didnt mean to do that... I thought daddy was going to be alright too but... as much as it pains me to say this.... I'm... glad you two got your cutie marks.... I told daddy about them and... He told me to tell you he was proud of you... something tells me after daddy left this morning... he at least came by and hugged you before he went with the angels that took him... Now when we get home you guys are going to your room and...." And that was all she wrote... Said...
After about an hour of being at home having Ditzy sleep, me helping her... go to the toilet and reading to her the doctor came into our room. Ditzy had taken up my bed. I was never too fond of the top bunk. Why? Because... I'm actually afraid of heights. A Pegasus afraid of heights. Heights and spiders. But.... As I was saying the doctor came into our room looking a tad worried for us. He had a note in his mouth. "...Ditzy... Daring... I want you both to... Stay close to each other..." He said. I nodded and climbed onto the bed with Ditzy on her better side. Her left side. It was the least damaged side. The doctor sat next to our bed taking the note from his mouth and laying it on the bed looking at it. "...I uh... I have a note from your mother here... It's... It's a doozy... Just get ready..." He took a deep breath and... He hesitated a while longer. I knew it was really bad. "...Dear children... Mommy is too broken up about losing daddy and needs to go away for a while... I'm taking a bit of the fortune with me so I can live... I'm leaving you with The Doctor, the gardener and a nanny whom I have done background checks on and she is high up there... Daring, take care of Ditzy... Ditzy please... Be a good girl while mommy is away... I'll miss you guys... Listen to the doctor and the nanny... If you cry after you read this note... I'm... I'm sorry I couldn't take you with me... You'll be okay where you are... The nanny will take you into ponyville so you can make new friends... I love you both very much... Make sure you pray to say goodnight to daddy... Love Mommy."
Ditzy and I gasped. This is what I meant earlier by my guess! She left us! She left us after Daddy died leaving us with a doctor, a nanny and the gardener! Ditzy started to cry. I just closed my eyes and... I just thought to myself... I thought I was loving my mothers disappearance but... I was loving that I had to be closer to Ditzy.... "...M-mommy left us....?" Ditzy said tearing up. I said nothing. I nodded and nuzzled my sister trying to calm her. She cried harder. She was scared. I could tell. We lost daddy... Mommy left us and she couldn't tell who she would call for to comfort her but... I was always going to be there for her... Or... So I thought...
Tonight I'm in the trees with a hammock I had brought along. My back hurts from the longest walk I've ever done. This was about a thirty five mile walk. My wings were molting and... It wasn't good flying around with my first pair of molting wings. Guess when it happened. It happened when Ditzy turned sixteen. After we had lost our father and our mother took half of the family fortune neither me or Ditzy knew about we lived off of what ever our nanny made, the doctor cared for us when we were sick and believe it or not I had the worst end of that stick. About a month after mother left I actually went into a suicidal phase which caused some of my hair to turn into a grey scale after I shoved a fork into an electrical socket. I got nailed with fifty thousand volts and survived some how. The doctor said it was a miracle I survived and... Ditzy actually talked some sense into me. After that I did everything I could to keep Ditzy from making a big mistake like I almost did. Up until the nanny left us when we were thirteen she helped me plan Ditzy's birthdays. Same with having it vice versa but I always wanted the same kind of party. Adventuring theme. When Ditzy's sixteenth birthday came around my wings were itching like crazy. Since we were growing older we moved rooms. Our old room got really small for us we both had beds in our so called mothers room. I sat in my bed chewing on my wings either trying to bite them off or rid myself of the itch. Ditzy had Mr. Bunbun since... well I was gonna be the brave one for both of us and brave ponies don't really need something such as silly as that... Gotta say it. Book two. Ahuizotl caught me with a stuffed toy in my hooves, he saw I was embarrassed by it but he vowed to keep his silence. Anyways... Ditzy came over and sat in my bed. "You need some help there?" She asked.
I looked to her seeing her wall-eyed smile and gave a nod. I extended my wings and she helped me preen a bit. I know it was itching but... I actually didn't tell her. "Oooh thank you Ditzy!" I said still trying to resist the urge to scratch myself like a dog. "A-are you excited for your big party tomorrow? I invited everypony we know and I've got that mare at that Sugarcube Corner place helping me setting everything up if that's alright!" Ditzy stopped helping me 'preen' for a moment.
"I don't think I can wait! You throw the bestest parties!" Yeah... The fall she had hurt her thinking. Her grammar was atrocious sometimes but I understood what she was saying no matter what. I gave her a smile having my eye twitch a little bit.
"Well I-I would do anything to see you happy! Now uh.... Can you be a dear and get me the doctor? I... I think I got a bug bite on my flank and it stings like crazy!"
"A buggy bite? Can I see?"
"Ditzy!" Ugh.... I had to snap at her to get the doctor... That didn't feel good nor did my itching wings. She said nothing else and ran out leaving me alone to just fall off my bed, onto my back so I could start scratching my back against the floor. Sure the carpet wasn't doing much for helping with the itch but it was helping with making my bed hit against the wall. Got caught uh.... Doing things when we first got in this room. Not by Ditzy. She actually didn't care. The nanny and the doctor caught me with my hoof where it shouldn't have been and I got grounded. Yes Ahuizotl caught me but at least he left me alone.
The doctor hurried in closing the door behind him. He helped me up off the ground and I started to gnaw on my wings yet again. I was going insane! "Alright Daring let me take a look at the bite! I've seen a few poisonous spiders lately and I do not want you to succumb to the effects of their poisons!" He said. The doctor was afraid of spiders. He studied them to know what the effects of their venom did if they did anything but he always buzzed off as soon as the spider would escape from his line of sight. I grunted.
"Doc it isn't a bug bite or anything my wings are itching like CRAZY! I don't think I can last anymore with these things driving me crazy!" He sighed as I got back on my bed. "I only told Ditzy that so she wouldn't freak out thinking I'm dying of some stupid parasite feeding off of me!" He sat with me on my bed now inspecting my wings. He sighed.
"Well isn't that a relief? No bites just a little bit of molting wings! My advice is take a bath but cover the drain up! Your feathers will come right off, the itching will stop but you wont be able to fly for at least a week or two."
"So you're saying I either deal with the itch or take a bath, have my feathers fall off and walk for a few weeks? What if I wanted to take Ditzy to Cloudsdale?"
"What's in Cloudsdale that Ditzy would wanna see?"
"I don't know but it'd be getting us out of the house! You know how much I don't like sitting around! Why else am I helping the gardener with the herb garden? Not because I want fresh salsa with some chips during my lunch hour but because I have nothing else to do!" The doctor grunted a bit.
"Well I suggest you try the Running of the Leaves to work out your legs if you want something to do! Besides that fortune your parents left you with is dwindling and soon you wont have anything to fall back on! Plus... That nanny was left in charge of how you spent the fortune but upon leaving she took a good chunk of it..." Yeah... We ended up getting fucked by the nanny. She stole our money, which we were supposed to be given upon our sixteenth birthdays, of which the day I'm describing is prior to Ditzy's sixteenth. Me however being born a month apart from Ditzy wanted to wait to be given my half of the fortune. If I had gotten my half of the fortune Ditzy would've been crying and... honestly it hurts to see her cry ever since she had that fall... I actually wish I could've swapped myself with her. I wish I were to take the damage done to her and have her walk freely without being looked upon as a quote 'retarded bitch'. At my fourteenth birthday I had a few 'friends' over... I say friends that way because they weren't ever my friends after that.... I leave the living area to use the bathroom and what do I see when I come back? I see Ditzy crying in the corner with a black eye, her mane ripped out in a few places and the words whore, slut, cum dumpster and useless written on her flank. The only thing I couldn't scrub out were the memories of that night...
Anyways about an hour later I finished washing myself up looking at my wings in the mirror. Nothing but a tattered mess. The itch stopped but my feathers were being sifted out of the bath by the doctor while, believe it or not, Ditzy was at my side holding my hoof. I had tears in my eyes while she tried to wipe them away. "Daring! Why didn't you say you were losing feathers?" She asked. "I would've understand how you feeled!"
I sniffled hugging Ditzy. My wet mane dripped onto my face masking my tears. "...D-ditzy... I just... I didn't want you to worry about me..." I said. "...I... I thought you would've been freaking out about me.... I would've ruined your birthday...." Ditzy gave a smile giving me a kiss on my cheek.... Warm feelings I wont ever mind sharing with anyone. Book four had me sad being so far away from home... I managed to find Ahuizotl more towards the end of the book and he called his henchcolts off giving us some time alone. I only make Ahuizotl the biggest bad guy in my books because... well... what would my books be if I only told the truth? Complete shit. I find treasure, Ahuizotl and I talk before he tries stealing the treasure from me and I get it on in a cave WITH Ahuizotl. Who would read that? I wouldn't even use my pen name on that! But while I was there with Ahuizotl that night I had a nightmare about Ditzy upon my return. She didn't even want me to talk with her... It scared me really bad.... Lets just say I had to wash myself off in a pond and dry myself with one of Ahui's shirts. So embarrassing but he kept my secrets. Back to what was going on Ditzy gave me a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"You cant ruin things we does! You planded my party! We's gonna have a lotssa fun! So no cry!" She nuzzled me as a sob escaped... And a little gas but... that's only a condition. If I cry I burp a few times.
"...O-of course I ruin everything... I ruined our first sleep over.... I ruined our first hearths warming without mom and dad... I... I even ruined dinner on Hearths Warming..." Yeah... I was making Mac'n Cheese, burned it and I wasn't allowed to use the stove for about a few months.
"You ruined nothing! You tried and that's better than not doing!" I have to admit... I was pretty thick headed at that time. My emotions always got the best of me and since we actually could go out on our own the I flew to try and run from my emotions... That of which I have done in book number three. That was the book I had a busted wing. Hurt like hell but what I felt in my heart was a greater pain. A puma mauled the mother of two small monkey children... I bucked the puma causing it to run off but he scratched the hell out of my flank before making a run for it... How did I get around? Well... Ahuizotl... Yes it always has to point to him. He and I are actually good friends believe it or not. The so called 'race for the treasure' isnt a dangerous one but more of a friendly competition. Sorry to those who read it but it is true. You did hear it from the horses mouth... literally I'm a horse... bad pun. So... Ahuizotl found me writhing in pain trying to find a medicinal fauna I read up on. He carried me and had a few of his henchcolts, AKA his team of survival experts since he wasnt fond of living out in the wilderness being what he is. A black panther, cursed by a zebra witch doctor to live up until he finds his true love, then of which after they die, he dies too. But... Yes he found the plant, i was healed and actually helped me to heal up before going after the treasure again. In my own mind at the time of me being with Ditzy I though about how I was going to calm myself. Nothing came to mind until Ditzy hugged me again. A warm feeling surged through my body. I gave a smile and tackled Ditzy to the floor almost as if I wanted to dry my body with her body heat.
"...Th-thank you Ditzy.... I love having you as a sister...." I nuzzled Ditzy until the doctor pried us apart. He wrapped me in a towel and Ditzy helped me dry off. That night just probably about an hour later Ditzy and I decided to push our beds close together and cuddle with Mr. Bunbun in between us. We uh... We didn't want him to be left out of our sisterly bond.
Even with each other embraced I freaked out and had a nightmare. It started out with me flying over the forest with a flock of razor winged hawks on my tail. I was attacked by hawks a few months before that and woke up across the room. The razor wings were from a bird movie someone made. Anyways I was flying over the forest containing our home with that flock on my tail. I saw Ditzy on the ground but I wouldn't dare ever to go near her with danger around me. The hawks buzzed me trying to cut my neck, my haunches and basically every part of my body. One hawk came so close to slashing my face up I swear I felt the blade touch my cheek. The hawks took a quick turn and back tracked but... they just whipped around and cut my wings right off. Ditzy just watched as I went into a nose dive where I fell through branches smashing my face on everything on the way down until I smacked into the ground. That's just when the ground opened up and I fell into a pool of water in an underground spring. Worst part is... I don't know how to swim. I started to splash about trying to keep myself above the water panicking like hell trying not to drown. Well... until I started to hear a voice. "Daring! Daring! Daring wake up!" It said. It was the doctor. Suddenly a rock hits me in the face and I wake up to see the doctor standing over me, a warm feeling under me and Mr. Bunbun on my cheek. The doctor sighed. "...Finally you woke up... Ditzy woke up when you hit her in the face... She's in the bathroom right now keeping her nose from bleeding anymore than it had..." I sat up a bit.
"...I... gave Ditzy a nosebleed?" I said confused and a bit scared. I never hit Ditzy. NEVER! The doctor nodded as I sat up. The warm feeling felt like a puddle under me. I brought my hoof up having it drip a bit. "Did... Did someone try and wake me up with some water?" I only ask because the covers on top of me were a bit wet as well. The doctor blushed.
"Uh... No... No we didn't Daring... I got back in here and saw the stains but... well..." He pulled back the covers and... Yeah... I blushed hard because....
"I... I wet the bed...?" The doctor nodded and I started to tear up.
"...REM sleep causes things like this and you caught the worst end of it." He grabbed my hoof and helped me out of the bed. I looked back at the stain and realized it wasn't just a trickle but a downpour. It was a huge stain. "C'mon... lets get you into the bath and clean up... I have to check on Ditzy anyways..." Even though this house was secluded and very few ponies lived here I felt like I was doing a walk of shame through busy streets with a leash, a collar and the word WHORE written on a blindfold covering the shame from my eyes. The blindfold hid my shame yet I still saw everything.... After what felt like miles on that shame walk I found myself in the bathroom staring at Ditzy who was sobbing on the toilet with a clump of bloody TP on her face. The doctor released my hoof and I climbed into the tub. "Alright Ditzy let me see if the bleeding stopped."
Ditzy whined and whimpered trying to keep the doctor away from her face yet he still took the tissues away. I saw dried blood on her muzzle. I reached for her seeing if she wanted a hug but.... she just... she gave me the cold shoulder... it felt... absolute zero... the coldest temperature... "...I-it still hurts doc..." She said sounding a bit nasally. The doctor grabbed another clump of toilet paper and held it up to her nose.
"Here blow." She blew her nose and when the doctor took the tissues away she screamed seeing nothing but more blood. I wanted to get out and hug her but... I was just too broken up. Wet bed, hitting her in the face and just being shrugged off... it all just hurt like hell. It hurt worse than my injury in book three. It hurt worse than Ditzy's injuries when we were younger. It even hurts worse than when we lost our father! The doctor shushed and wiped Ditzy's nose from any remaining blood. "Ditzy! Ditzy calm down! Please you don't have a nose bleed anymore you're fine!" I could tell she wanted to stop crying but she couldn't. Tears poured from her eyes, snot from her nose and endless sobs.
I just slumped down in the bath tub curling up. It only took a few minutes for Ditzy's sobbing fade out. The doctor had to pull her onto his back and carry her out. Lucky him us pegasai are light. Anyways I washed myself of and returned to the bedroom to see Ditzy curled up in the corner. My bed was stripped as well as my own sisters emotions. I hesitantly approached Ditzy but.... I ended up sitting on my bed. "Ditzy...." I said. "...If you're listening... If you're listening and I really want you to..." Tears came to my eyes. "...I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hit you.... I was having a nightmare.... and... just because... Ha-ha...." I couldn't force it out I was so sad. As I break down crying I fell back in my bed. For the longest time I lied there sobbing with no covers, no sister to cuddle and no one there to comfort me. I saw the doctor come in and bring Ditzy to her bed. She... She fell asleep crying. I rolled right over and dropped out of my bed onto my hooves. He came right over to me but... He knew what I wanted. He picked me up after giving me a hug and carried me to his bed where I snuggled with him. To clarify his room now was my mothers room years ago. His room then is ours now. Our room then has just turned into a study.
When the light of day broke I got up finding myself lying on top of the doctor. Almost right there in his arm pit. I just left his room, brushed my mane and checked on Ditzy. She was still asleep and cuddling Mr. Bunbun. I just sighed as I went in, gave her a soft kiss on her cheek before going down stairs. When I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water I saw the gardener setting out a bowl of fruit and a little gift marked for Ditzy. Just as I filled up a glass he looked to me. The gardener was a unicorn. Dark green mane and light brown coat almost matching mine. His cutie mark was just a pair of gardening shears. "Ah good morning lady Daring!" He said. "How are you this fine morning?" I sighed after chugging the glass.
"....There isn't anything fine about today.... I had a shitty night last night and.... it had to do with the birthday girl..." I walked over and sat at the table grabbing a banana. "...Apparently during my nightmare I was freaking out and smacked Ditzy in the nose... Not to mention I uh... well... watered my plants..." I blushed starting to peel the banana. "The worst part of it was... I couldn't get near her to apologize or even hug her..." The gardener pulled up a chair and sat down next to me.
"So that's what I was hearing last night. This place is so big I thought the wind was blowing so hard it was echoing through the house." Oh... Yeah he lives down stairs. Not only does he know how to garden he's basically the security guard of this house. One time somepony broke in and I was face to face with the guy. I was so scared I couldn't even scream or piss myself. He basically came out of nowhere, checked the guy and pinned him threatening to slash his throat with a machete.... Brutal but he really does have a machete. He goes and hacks at tree branches to bring in for firewood during the fall. "My suggestion to you... try to think of something Ditzy actually wants. You go and get it for her just so you can get her forgiveness. They say you shouldn't buy forgiveness but I know how much you love your sister."
"...But... What if I don't want to buy her forgiveness and try to earn it back?"
"Well why don't you just go out and do a little walking? I know you do your best thinking while moving and from the look of those wings I think you wont be flying for a while." I guess that's when I slammed my head on the table. I nearly forgot about my wings with Ditzy's stuff going on. Anyways I quickly ate my banana and left the house.
I ended up walking through Ponyville trying to figure out what I should do for Ditzy's forgiveness for hours. Flying was my best way of thinking and since I couldn't fly I couldn't make a quick decision. I actually avoided Sugarcube Corner just so I wouldn't be reminded of Ditzy. I feel like if i'm away from things for a while I forget what I was thinking about and go about a normal day. Trust me it helps a lot. But... my mind pointed to Ditzy and trying my hardest to make a decision. Well... My decision came but... when it was too late. I came to Sugarcube Corner seeing all the party decorations up still, a large amount of cake and Ditzy sitting with one of the owners, Miss Cake, a pink curly maned blue earth pony. As I entered I could hear Ditzy whimpering. This wasn't whimpers of pain. Just... deep sadness. Miss Cake looked up at me giving me a mean look. "You there!" She snapped. "You get over here this instant! You put so much trouble into throwing this party and you don't even show up?!? What the hell is wrong with you hasn't your mother raised you right?"
I sighed hanging my head as I sat at a table right next to Ditzy. "...She left us when we were ten... so... I'm going to answer no." I said. I looked to her. "...Can... You please leave us alone...? I want to talk with my sister alone...." Miss Cake gave a nod and ran over to her fiancé at the time Carrot Cake. Don't worry. Miss Cake actually took his last name. Her real name is Miss Scone. Doesn't really sound as good.
I got up and moved next to Ditzy. I saw tears in her eyes and a half eaten slice of cake in front of her. "....Now you show up..." She said. "...You... you forgeted my birfday...." I sighed resting my hoof on her arm.
"I would never forget your birthday Ditzy... but... seems everypony else did...." I looked around blushing a bit. Ditzy sniffled taking her arm away.
"...No... They all left.... I had four of everypony invited come... they askeded if I was okay but.... I just wanted you to be here...." She looked to me. "...Wh-why you no come....?" I started to tear up.
"...To... to be honest Ditzy... I'm hurt... I didn't mean to hit you last night.... I mean... I peed my bed.... I was expecting to get comfort from you but... instead I see you with a bloody nose and... you just shrugged me off like I didn't matter when I wanted to hug you... I meant to be here sooner but... I was thinking about how I could get you to forgive me for hurting you...."
"But I do forgive you for that! I just... wanna not forgive you for not coming to birfday..." It was there I hugged Ditzy breaking down crying. She hugged me back and comforted me. I think the Cakes felt so bad for me they came over brought us a milk shake to share. To clarify here I hate chocolate, she hates vanilla so the only one we could agree on would be strawberry. Yeah so... Ditzy and I ended up walking all the way home. She had her wing holding my tattered shreds I had to call wings for a while but.... believe it or not a day after I got back in the air Ditzy had her wings molt and I forgot about this experience almost entirely. Yeah. I almost forgot about this. I remembered this because..... Yeah last night I was sleeping around a waterfall and.... you can probably guess what happened.... That's what triggered the memories... Anyways... I should really be getting to sleep... it's late and I've got more of a hike in the morning... planning on meeting Ahuizotl at his cottage just north of here.
Ahuizotl... the villain in my books but my friend in real life. I actually have been at his cottage for... maybe a couple hours now. He basically fixed this entire place up almost on his own. Almost. I actually helped him. On the outside of this place is a dark cobble stone wall just to be separated from all who dare enter this four bedroom, three and a half bath wonder home. He put it up after we started the book series. First day my books sold out I had to hide him out at my place making everypony think it was just some sort of ghost. I spread the rumor about the area this place is in so the thrill seekers, the triple dog dared and the stupid so called ghost catchers just bugger off. Where I'm at right now is a room he always kept just for me incase anypony figured out my pen name is fake and my real identity. I actually made duplicates of all my pictures I had of me and my sister made. Ditzy kept originals, the copies were hung up in the room. Ahuizotl gave me a big bed so... I had no trouble falling asleep. Anyways where I met him.... Ah yes just a few days after my nineteenth birthday Ditzy and I were messing around with an explorers kit my gardener gave me. He actually included his favorite machete in it. We left that inside because we were running around taking turns pretending to be a hunter and an animal. We used a toy dart rifle and wore the pith helmet I am known to wear in my books along with my survivalist vest. That I left inside too. That thing is equipped with sharp knives, trip wire, antibiotic pills, a strap for a canteen and a few packages of seeds if I'm ever stuck somewhere and kinda don't wanna move. Ditzy had the toy rifle and my helmet. I was the animal and believe it or not that wall eyed expression she has isn't as a bad of a shot. She nailed me either dead center cutie mark, right between the eyes or when my tail swishes with the wind. This shot however nailed me in the back of the head. I gave a laugh looking back at her. "Jeez! That was the fourth first shot today!" I said. "Your cutie mark should be a bulls eye not bubbles!"
Ditzy laughed as I shook the dart from my mane and reloading it in to the clip. This thing was fun as anything I didn't have as a little filly. "Darts is like bubbles!" She said. "Which way the wind blows it goes too!" I gave a sigh cocking the gun and making sure its little plastic scope was aligned right.
"Well I guess you do know which way the wind blows... You want to be the animal again or do you wanna run inside and get something to eat? I'm getting hungry... Pancakes don't really go and fill me up as much as I thought." As a little filly I was always wanting pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Before my father got sick he made us what ever we wanted. He was a chef. He made the best food for the most popular restaurant in Ponyville, The Silver Stable. He actually passed down his recipe to his protégé before he was bedridden. I think I forgot to mention it but about a week or two after his passing the restaurant closed down because everyone thought nopony would be tasting his succulent food anymore. But in short my father made pancakes with chocolate chips, tofu bacon, even blueberries and strawberries too! He even made latkas! Potato pancakes. Those were my favorite out of all the ones he made. Anyways Ditzy's stomach growled.
"Tummy makin' rumblies for food! You think you can make haybuggas?" Ah hayburgers... Ditzy's favorite. Catsup and mustard on hay and an all wheat bun! You know... this time I made an exception that really helps with this story. How? Just wait and see. I gave Ditzy a nod putting the toy sniper on my back holding it down with my wings. She cheered and had my helmet fall over her eyes. I gave a laugh and brought it over onto my head before we both hurried to the house. Just as we did I saw a shadow out of the corner of my eye of something sitting in the bushes just watching us. Either that or it was just a hallucination from fatigue because we were playing for hours. Yeeeeaaahhhh no.... After lunch Ditzy passed out after eating four hayburgers and me having nothing else to do went out to take a little flight around. Not only for my thoughts thinking of another thing me and Ditzy could do but I was looking for that suspicious shadow I saw. Give ya four seconds to guess what it was. Four... three.... two... two and a half.... and one. Did ya guess? ...You're kidding right? That wasn't just a figment of my imagination but.... oh forget it I got a story to tell.
So I flew over the forest trying to find a good spot to land. Didn't really get my hooves on the ground as much as tree branches but at that time I practiced free run parkour. Some days I would fly over to a guard training post and they let me train myself to do that free run fun because at the time I wanted to be a guard but... Yeah guess who changed my idea. Ahuizotl! Anyways I hopped from branch to branch to maybe get an overhead attack on maybe a possible predator. I stopped and balanced myself on a thick branch trying to listen for something that could help me. Well... That branch I was on wasn't as sturdy as I thought and it snapped. I fell so fast I couldn't catch myself with my wings. I landed all dazed and confused just not even getting up but... I hear someone coming. "Goodness are you alright?!" They said. I rolled onto my side and looked into the bushes and I find myself staring Ahuizotl in the face as he's running towards me. I was actually so scared I screamed before just passing out because I didn't really know what or who the hell he even was.
Anyways when I woke up I was thinking I was having some sort of nightmare yet my side was hurting. I saw a patch of gauze taped to my side. Not to mention I was on Ditzy's bed. I never slept in Ditzy's bed unless she was in it. I managed to roll out of the bed barely missing the injury I had sustained and I went for the door. As I walked out everything felt empty. I'd normally be greeted by the doctor or the gardener or on most occasions Ditzy. "Hello? Ditzy? Doc? Is anypony here?" I said.
As I walked towards the stairs I heard a door open up. "Daring? We's in kitchen!" Ditzy called out.
"We? Who's in there with you? Is it the doctor?" I got no answer from her. I walked over to the stairs and looked over to the kitchen door which was opened just a smidge. Slowly I descended feeling as if who ever brought me in here or what ever I saw in the woods (YES IT WAS AHUIZOTL I DONT KNOW THAT YET AT THIS POINT NOW DO I?!) had trapped the steps and just waited for me to trip over it injuring myself so they could go after the fortune, the valuables and what ever me and Ditzy have to offer if you know what. "Ditzy? Ditzy! Answer me when I'm talking to you!" Still nothing. I ended up hopping the railing to the steps and gliding down with my wings. Once I landed I hurried to the kitchen. The thick warm smell of caramel hit my nose. I actually don't like caramel and we usually keep that stuff out of the house! I peeked through the opening and I saw Ditzy and the doctor. At this time he was actually starting to show signs of aging. It was surprising he stayed with me and Ditzy as long as he did. Anyways they were sitting at the table eating caramel apples! To be honest I'm allergic to caramel. Its one of the sugar types there is in it. We have found out which one it is and apparently its just a sweetener made from a plant somewhere in southern Equestrian rainforests. I actually carried an epi-pen with me just to help me have enough time to make an antidote to counteract the allergic reaction. Ahuizotl helped me one time blah blah blah do you really even need to know? Sorry I'm just a bit tired... Anyways Ditzy saw me out of the corner of her eye and sprang up.
"DARING! You's okay!" She came right out and hugged me being careful of my wound which.... started to sting a bit now that I was up and moving. "We was scared when we heard you scream but a nice guy gotcha inside! You gotta meet him!" She looked back at the doctor. One of her eyes was kinda trained on me and I could only look right into it. I kinda wish I could read her mind instead of going with a know of the layout of the land. "Mr. Ahuizotl! My sister's finally awake!"
I actually thought if this was one of my sisters little times of confusion but not even a second later I see what I saw out in the forest. A large black panther with a hand for a tail, a long tuft of fur tied in a ponytail and two more hands almost looking like along with a gold earing in his ear. I screamed and pushed Ditzy away before falling back. "Woah! Woah PLEASE! No more screaming" He said as he approached as I screamed some more trying to back away. "Come on I know I'm scary looking but I just want to be your friend! I was going to approach you while you and your lovely sister here were playing but I didn't want this to happen!"
Ahuizotl reached towards me and I smacked his creepy hand away from me feeling scared like hell. "STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!" I yelled.
Yeah probably shouldn't have said that. Ditzy pounced on me giving me a mean look. "DA-RING!" She yelled. "You say sorry to him! You nice to me even I look like this!" Yep.... That right there was the shot in the arm I needed but... it didn't take full effect.
Ahuizotl sighed pulling Ditzy off of me. "Oh it's fine... I'm not really hurt by that stuff although it is the only reaction I get when I'm trying to make friends." He said. "Now why don't you go on in there and finish your candied apple? I can try and gain your sisters trust on my own." Ditzy gave a nod as he set her at his side. She gave me a disgruntled look just before going back into the kitchen. Ahuizotl looked at me and all I could do was hold my tongue fearing I would say something that would come back to bite me in the ass. He sat down just feet away from me just giving a worried look. "Uh... Daring is it? I know you're freaked out by my appearance and everypony is. Your sister screamed a bit but the doctor seems to know of me."
I scrambled to my hooves crossing my haunches sitting down. "D-Doc?" I pretty much called out. "Can y-you come out here please?!" The doctor came right out with a candied apple in his mouth. "Why does he say he knows of you and WHY are you eating a candied apple?! WITH CARAMEL?!"
Ahuizotl popped the caramel apple out of the doctors mouth with his... hand tail... giving him room to talk. "Sorry Daring but.... I just couldn't help myself!" He said. "I just love those! I know you're allergic to the sweetener that's used but I haven't had anything this sweet in a long time!"
"And about this freak?!" I pointed to Ahuizotl. The doctor sat next to him taking his.... claw I guess? His anatomy is kinda weird.
"Daring do not call him a freak! This is Ahuizotl and he's a black panther that has been cursed to walk the earth for as long as time goes on. I don't know of the curse personally and he doesn't really remember what it was." He didn't remember until a rockslide caused a blockade trapping me in a tunnel. I was honestly so scared of not getting out when I did get free I tackled Ahuizotl and he hit his head but that was around book two. "Now apologize!" I gave a sigh getting to my hooves.
"Well... Ahuizotl I'm sorry for calling you a freak... You just... Freaked me out rushing to me when I fell and... seeing you near my family just kinda scares me too.... I mean... For all I know you're trying to poison them but you just didn't know about my allergies..."
Ahuizotl gave a sigh. "I know my presence scares you but you have to trust me I just want to try and make some friends without them freaking out like you did." He said averting his gaze. "... Just at the sight of me ponies scream and run always judging me by the way I look... They don't even get a chance to know the real me...." Believe it or not he started to cry. The doctor hugged him and... Well... I guess I had to do so as well. It was lukewarm. I half trusted him. Half trust is just trusting him but not letting him near any valuables, secrets and what not but who would I talk to? Sure Ditzy but.... well... let me say what really went on with that.
Later the doctor had me and Ditzy run out and gather ingredients for a four cheese lasagna which Ahuizotl was going to cook. I was walking just to enjoy the sun set and the cool air but I was kinda pissed and kinda scared. Ditzy looked over at me and rested her wing on my back. "You and Mr. Zotl gotsta be friends after dinner Daring!" She said. "He even offered to make cupcakes for us for dessert!"
I sighed and flipped Ditzy's wing off with my wing. "Ditzy I don't trust him still..." I said. "...There's just something about him that just... It just makes me think he's trying to rob us blind.... I mean he was hiding in the forest watching us and rushed over to me when I got hurt and he brought my number one allergy into the house.... He's lucky I only get watery eyed when I smell caramel otherwise I'm swelling up like a balloon."
"He's only bein' nice to us after making me scream and cry. He no know 'bouts your ickysickies! 'Sides we gots your sicky stickin the kitchen for just incase!"
"But he doesnt know that Ditzy! He could slip some of that caramel into my food and I'm gasping for air while while you're trying to stop him from taking the safe!" Ditzy groaned a bit.
"DA-riiiiiiiiing! Mr. Ahuizotl is a nice uh... kitty thing... He not gonna give pain to us!"
"...Okay Ditzy.... You live in your world and I'm gonna stay safe behind my own little magic barrier watching him and the first move he makes to hurt you I'm hurting him!" What? I didn't say my relationship with him started out well. Ditzy smacked me in the back of the head with her wing.
"No! You gotsta be nice to Mr. Zotl! Docs gonna send you to your room without dinner!"
"Oh who gives a flying flail if I get dinner or not. I'm not gonna be subjected to any poison he might have hidden! Ditzy why don't you just grab a hayburger and save yourself? The doctor says as long as you eat something no matter what he wont be mad. Please just do this for me so i'll be happy! ....you do want me happy don't you....?" Ditzy whimpered a bit. I knew I struck a nerve because she knows I've been there for her and that she's been there for me whenever I needed it. I helped her go to the bathroom after the accident, she helped me get comfortable in her bed when it was stormy out and the hard rain kept me up. I didnt really like hard rain but she loved it. Book five I was cooped up in a cave during a storm and I just couldn't sleep until Ahuizotl and his posse came in. I had a fire going to stay warm and they dried off by it. It was kinda nice being surrounded by warm bodies in cold rain. With that part I just wrote about being trapped in a rockslide and had to dig my way out only to end up in the arms of Ahuizotl. Anyways Ditzy sighed.
"...Yes I wanna see sissy smile! But... I don't wanna see Mr. Zotl sad either.... Maybe we get something for everypony? Maybe like a pizza?" I rolled my eyes just out of Ditzy's view.
"Fine.... Pizza it is but we still gotta get the ingredients for lasagna and just act like we didn't want him to trouble himself..." So Ditzy and I went by the pizza place after we grabbed the ingredients and just ordered a plain cheese. Didn't wanna get my favorite pineapple and mango pizza. Tropical bliss. Plus... not every pony likes a sweet taste with pizza. They're more hot peppers and cilantro. When we got home we didn't see Ahuizotl or the doctor. That kinda scared me. Nothing looked damaged or missing from the entry way so that kept me from freaking out. I set the pizza on the table just as Ditzy emptied her saddle bags onto the counter pouring out pasta noodles, cans of tomato sauce, parmesan, sharp cheddar, provolone, and just a bit of pepper jack cheese to give things a little kick and some spices to help with everything so it tastes better. I looked to Ditzy as I grabbed a few plates from the cabinet. "You think you can go find the doctor and Ahuizotl? I'll get things ready out here." Ditzy gave a nod and rushed out of the kitchen. I set the plates on the table in a few places at the table and sat at my spot. Six pony table, four ponies sat at it every night. Always the same position. Me and Ditzy sat almost head of the table with the doctor and gardener sitting next to us on either side they wanted. The doctor mostly sat on my side and... right where my mother sat was Ahuizotl.
That whole dinner I didn't speak. Not to Ditzy, not to the doctor, not to the gardener and not even to Ahuizotl. Didn't trust him still. I even kept my tail off the side of my chair so he wouldn't yank at it with his crazy hand tail. But here is the thing that happened here... Ice cream. After dinner the Doctor had me, Ditzy, the gardener and Ahuizotl out in the main hall. "Who wants ice cream? My treat!" He said.
Ditzy gasped and flew up in the air. "OOH! Me me me!" She said. "I wants ice creamy wif sprinkles!" The doctor looked to Ahuizotl and me because the gardener was already at his side. Never turns down a snack.
"Daring? Ahui? You two want in?"
Ahuizotl shook his head. "None for me thanks. Sensitive teeth." He said. I wanted to call him out but I had to give my own answer.
I took a deep breath and sighed averting my gaze. "Wish I could but the pizza got me not feeling so well.... Stomach is feeling a little off." I said. "You guys go on without me I'll be fine here. Just need to lie down is all."
The doctor gave a sigh. "Lucky you I still know your favorite ice cream." He said. "I'll be nice and get it for you so you can have it tomorrow alright?" I gave a nod and started for the stairs.
I heard Ahuizotl behind me say "Don't worry I'll go ahead and make her something to soothe her stomach. Tea with a hint of freshly squeezed orange." Believe it or not (which I know you will believe it) I zoned out of the conversation as I disappeared into my room and sat on my bed thinking why I wanted to stay at my home with a possible psycho who wants to freaking rob us blind. That sit in my room turned into a lie down and being curled up freaking out. The sunset faded away leaving the entire room in darkness. I didn't even bother to turn on a light because I actually liked being in the dark to help calm myself. Maybe after about fifteen minutes of me laying in the dark I get a knock on my door. "Daring? It's Ahuizotl. I have your tea ready. May I come in?"
To be honest I felt as if the doctor would be outside of the door but I knew he would be half way down the road towards Ponyville by now. Lucky him the ice cream shop that he goes to has a pony there who can freeze any frozen treat for at least twelve hours. Flash Frozen as she is known. Anyways I gave a huff as I sat back up almost ready for a quick fight. "...Why not? It's not like this teeny stomach bug is contagious." I said. The door opened and he walked in with a tea cup steaming hot. He flipped on the light nearly stunning me but I've woken up with the sun in my eyes a few times for that to be toned down. "...look I know what you're doing here and I don't trust you...." He looked at me just as he set the tea cup down on the desk. Did I mention that or not? Feels like I did... Anyways he looked to me after setting the tea cup down.
"Why don't you? Is it because of the way I look?" I shook my head.
"What were you doing in the forest? This home is supposed to be secluded!" Ahuizotl sighed sitting on Ditzy's bed.
"Oh... that's why you don't trust me... just because I was creeping about inside your family's domain... I have a fairly good reason for that! Can I explain myself please?"
"I suppose.... but I want you to keep your hands where I can see them!" He folded his hands putting his tail hand on his head.
"Alright.... Years ago I met that doctor of yours... he healed me after I had gotten hurt and taught me some skills to help myself pop a bone back into place or give stitches to myself or someone who does trust me. I tracked him here and I wanted to see if he could teach me anything else but I saw you and your sister playing in the forest and I got hesitant. I didn't mean to scare you when you fell but you had a gash in your side which I sewed up and patched myself with some of the doctors supplies... I was actually surprised to see you up and walking... Tell me did you feel any pain in your side while you were walking?" I shook my head. I gotta be honest I did feel a bit of pinching. Nothing too too bad. "Well that's good... the anesthetic is still working but it will wear off by morning... this wont prove much but poke at your side. See if you feel any sort of stinging." I hesitantly poked at my side and gasped, cringing at the stinging pain I felt. "See? I stitched you up while you were out.... Do you trust me now?" I actually gave it some thought not being able to think straight because of the stinging. After the stinging went away I looked to Ahuizotl.
"...Well... I'm sorry I ever doubted you... Thank you for doing that you fre- I mean... Ahuizotl... You can actually move now... and maybe give me the tea now... My stomach is feeling a bit weird now actually..." Yeah... three slices of pizza and well... I put some red pepper on my pizza and I'm not really used to spicy foods. Ahuizotl smiled and got up from Ditzy's bed grabbing my tea from the desk and gave it to me. I sipped from it and... it seemed sweet... too sweet. I coughed a bit. "Um... Ahui.... what uh... what did you put in this tea....?"
"Well.... I made it fresh. Your gardener handed over some bitter tea leaves and I thought it could've used some sweetener so I used some left over sweetener from the caramel apples." My heart dropped and I dropped the tea cup shattering it feeling myself puff up.
"....W-was it the one made from a plant in... southern Equestria....?" He gave a nod and I started coughing. "YOU JACK ASS I'M HIGHLY ALERGIC TO IT!" I actually fell off my bed taking as many big breaths as I could knowing my throat was closing up. Ahuizotl started to freak out a bit.
"I-I didn't know! Can I help in any way?"
"....Kitchen medkit.... purple epipen...." I could only force that out trying to gasp for ore air. He said nothing as he ran right out of the room leaving me to just pass out... I thought I was dead... my throat was closed up, I couldn't breathe and.... my life flashed before my eyes... everything that I went through, all those thoughts of Ditzy crying after mom had left both from pain and knowing the fact we would be alone here without parental guidance, the bed wetting and her just not doing anything to help me... Those memories were the ones that went on the longest.... When everything went dark again... I thought I'd wake up in the clouds with my father... thinking he'd be there to greet me... No... What I see is Ahuizotl, the doctor and Ditzy sitting nearby inside of a hospital room... my... my own fathers room....
Ditzy was hugging Ahuizotl crying.... The doctor looking over some charts... He looked up and saw me just looking at them with my still puffy eyes. He quickly glanced over at them. "She's waking up!" He said. He came to my bedside and shined a light in my eye holding it open as best he could. "...Pupils dialated... heart rate normal.... Don't speak but can you breathe alright?" I nodded. "That's good... You were lucky Ahuizotl found your epipen when you told him.... Ditzy was afraid she was gonna lose you.... Hell I was almost in here with you.... Nearly fainted... You wanna see Ditzy?" I nodded and he backed up looking at Ditzy and Ahui. "Ditzy sweetie? Daring wants to see you."
Ditzy broke away from Ahuizotl and just seeing her face as she came over made me glad I was still going. "....D-daring...." She said. "....I... I don't want you to see poppa... stay with me....." I teared up and nuzzled her. Couldn't do much else with swelled arms. You ever try bending your arm with a bee sting? It felt like that.
Ahuizotl got up and came to my bedside resting one of his hands on Ditzy's shoulder. "...Sorry about the screw up Daring..." He said. "Good thing you told me where your shot was... I was afraid you wouldn't survive... Even though you cant say anything I'm just going to assume you're greatful..." That I was. I basically owed him my life. I basically did save his life during book one. I grabbed the treasure and the temple started to crumble and his tail got caught under a chunk of debris and I moved it but... we actually bonded so close its actually hard for me to trash him in my books. I always send him a first edition before getting out another fake one to a fan which I always see multiple entries for from what are now two holders of The Elements of Harmony. During my last book I actually met them and... gotta say the blue one was REALLY annoying but around there Ahuizotl and I agreed on a no holding back race meaning we could do whatever we wanted but he got a bit too bad and strapped me to a wall. Glad that blue mare saved my ass from being burned alive or what ever the danger was... I actually forgot but I ended up smacking some sense into Ahuizotl after we already got things done... jack ass.... Anyways... I should get to sleep... it got a bit late while I was talking... Ahui's making some home made pasta... yum.
Ponyville sure has changed ever since I left... I'm talking about my leaving of the house.... The day I left I was just about twenty years old. Ditzy was all we had left.... She was all I had left... The doctor moved out seeing as we could handle ourselves fine and the gardener... well... He passed away a few months before I left.... Spider bite and he was highly allergic and we didn't even know... One bit him in his sleep and I found him still in his bed. But going back to Ponyville... It surely has changed... a lot... A gigantic castle sprouted up belonging to one of the Elements of Harmony holders. I decided to pay her a visit but... not before I checked out the old homestead. I basically had the ring here for the treasure during my last book and this is where I was busted by the Elements of Harmony but... I gotta say it felt good getting out my secret of my identity. I did have them promise they wouldn't speak of my secret. Even little miss blabber mouth. I'm talking of course of the blue one what ever her name is. Anyways it was just late in the morning when I came back here. Took a few days to navigate my way here but I made it alright. When I arrived the house was run down, the grass was out of control and climbing up the side of the house. Windows were broken, the paint was cracking and the silence was eerie. I'm wearing my disguise, straw hat, red glasses and my a red dress. I change it up when ever I go near towns just so ponies don't catch on. I actually have another home hidden half way to Canterlot from here where I keep treasures and also brandish one mean scythe. Come near my home and someone is getting scared off. or slashed. I don't mess around. As I stood here I have thoughts of all the fun times we had. But... The silence was interrupted by laughter. The laughter of a little colt and filly. I looked over and saw them running through the forest just like me and Ditzy did. I gave a smile just as they stopped seeing me. I could hear them whispering to each other to go check if it was me. Finally the little earth pony colt came over looking excited. "U-Uh... excuse me?" He said. "A-are you A.K. Yearling?"
I looked down and gave him a nod. "Why yes I am." I said. I looked up at the filly who was just looking over at us nervously. "Is that your sister over there?" I looked back down at him. He gave a nod. "Why don't you go bring her over here? I want to tell you two something about this place." He nodded again and hopped away quickly. I sat down just as he came back holding his sisters hoof. They were twins. Green manes and mint green coats.
"You see Spearmint? She is A.K. Yearling! Go on! Say hi!" Little Spearmint blushed and hesitated on speaking.
"Ah don't you worry little one. I wont bite. You two come and play here often?" The little colt nodded. "Have you ever went inside?" He shook his head.
"N-no Miss Yearling! Little miss scaredy cat here says its too dangerous!" I saw his sister tear up a bit as he gave her a little scowl.
"That's not a nice thing to say to your sister. She could end up getting really hurt and you might not be able to help her." Story of my life kid... He gave a sigh and looked to his sister.
"Sorry I said that Spearmint..."
The little filly wiped her tears away. "...I forgive you but... please don't do that again Cilantro..." She said. "Mommy wouldn't like it if you were always mean to me..." She looked at me. "Our daddy is raising us.... momma went to sleep and saw grandma n grandpa...."
I sighed and patted the ground next to me. Spearmint and Cilantro sat next to me. "....Be lucky you still have your father...." I said. "I had actually lost mine at your age... The reason I had you two come over here was so I could tell you this used to be my home...The last memory I've had with my father was him playing with me and my younger sister... The last night we saw him he was right there on his hospital bed after a heart attack." Like I'm going to scare a little filly and her brother after telling them my father died here.
"You used to live here....?" I gave a nod and stood back up. They stood up and followed me to the front door.
"I used to live here with my mother, my father, my beloved sister, an in home doctor and a gardener... He used to cook for us too. After my father passed on my mother took half of the fortune and left me and my sister alone after my sister suffered a horrible accident. With the help of the doctor I was able to help my sister heal up." I tried opening the front door but it had been locked a long time. Rusted shut. I hummed a bit. "You two stand back. This could end up coming back on us and you two getting hurt because of me will not look good." They both jumped back as I turned around. My dress was flowing as I bucked. I actually have it weighted near the flank to keep my cutie mark hidden. I only bucked it two times before the doors flew off the hinges going inside. I huffed fixing my dress turning about and looking into the dilapidated home. "Well... This is it. Casa de Yearling."
We walked inside over the broken doors and looked around. The chandelier that once hung brilliantly was on the floor shattered. One side of the stairs was busted by part of the support system above. Everything was still standing surprisingly but I had to make the tour quick. "Wow.... Everything is so big..." Cilantro said. "You actually used to live here with your sister?" I gave a nod.
"Yep... She and I were really close and we used to play around this place for years, even into our teen years...." We sat down before the shattered chandelier. "It was mostly in the entry way we would always play tag, we would race, we would even play ball in here but I accidentally kicked the ball and nailed part of the chandelier a bit. Mother forbid us from ever playing ball in here again. Its a wonder why she always let us play dress up in her room before she left." Fun fact the dress I'm wearing is actually my mothers that's altered to fit me and to hide my cutie mark and wings without any tell. It works well. I stood up again as the kids gave an intrigued 'ooh'. I smiled and started for the stairs that weren't broken. "Mind the glass children. I don't wanna have to patch any cuts. I don't know if there are any bandages around here..." We went up stairs. Little Spearmint whimpered a bit because of the house settling giving loud creaks. Reminded me of Ditzy. A lot. You wanna know what I hear just as we reach the top of the stairs.
"I gotcha Spearmint... Just... Hold my hoof?" I look back and see Spearmint take Cilantro's hoof.
"That's how you should always be with your sister. You don't know how long you'll be able to see her. My sister actually lives in Ponyville somewhere and I'm actually wanting to find her here. When I started my book series she and I got into a fight over who would get the fortune and use it wisely and..... Well every year I give her quite a bit of money from my books just to apologize but I never get a letter from her at all." That is actually true. I fought with Ditzy before I left for my first book but I made deals with her. She kept the family name secret, she keeps the fortune. Who knows how she spent it. We approached my old room and I opened up the door. The beds were still there. A hole in the roof and debris on the bed but... hanging off the foot of Ditzy's bed was Mr. Bunbun. He was covered in dust and dirt. I went in and picked him up. "...this little guy brings back memories..." I looked down at Cilantro and Spearmint. "This used to be my old room... I used to share this room with my sister. Sometimes when she was scared or sad I'd push my bed close and hug her. Do you two share a room together?"
They both nodded. "Daddy has us sharing a room with a bunk bed." Spearmint said. "I always have to go in my daddy's room when I'm scared and it's mostly Cilantro's fault!"
Cilantro looked over at his sister. "Me? Why's it my fault?!" He snapped.
"You're always putting bugs in my bed! You know I hate bugs! They're all creepy crawlies!"
Speaking of creepy crawlies... huge fear in coming via strand of web right in front of my face. Yep... Eight legged demon also known as a spider. I let out a scream and dropped Mr. Bunbun just freaking out. Cilantro and Spearmint just ran away as I started to buck wildly realizing the spider was coming from my hat. Then the unthinkable happened. My secret was revealed as I threw off the dress and the hat tossing my glasses aside and I start stomping on my mothers dress, my hat and Mr. Bunbun all in one go. My wings just puffed out and that's when I realized my mistakes by hearing both children give a gasp. I looked at myself. My tail, cutie mark and wings all revealed. I looked to Cilantro and Spearmint both with mouths gaping shocked. "...Please you two... please stay quiet about this!" I said. "This secret is my biggest one and if anyone found out my book series would be over... you two have to promise me you can keep this secret!"
They both looked to each other in deep thought. I could tell what they were thinking. Are we gonna lose our favorite book series or keep this huge secret? They looked back to me. "We super duper sibling promise!" They said. I... I couldn't help but tear up smiling.
"...Thank you... " I replied laying down onto my trampled and broken clothing trying to calm myself down. My mothers dress was ripped, my hat was stomped into disrepair but Mr. Bunbun was still okay. Not one rip or hoofprint on him. As I looked at him I saw a faded red color under the bed. A closer look revealed it was the old dart gun. I reached under the bed still shaking and pulled the old plastic scoped toy out. I blew dust off of it and cocked it. No resistance. It still worked as if it were fresh from the box. I looked over at the children. "Cilantro... Spearmint... Come over here please." They both approached me slowly still a bit scared by my freak out. "Here... You two can have these... For Cilantro you get my dart gun. Spearmint you can have my little stuffed companion here... I've had him since I was little and he kept me and my sister happy even after I gave him to her." They both took the plastic and stuffed toys. "If I were you I'd get those washed but... Do you know a mare named Rarity...?"
Spearmint nodded. "I know her!" She said. "She's my friends sister!"
"Can you please get her? Just tell her its a tailoring emergency and lead her here if you can..." She nodded and gave Mr. Bunbun to her brother before running out. He sat with me just keeping me company.
I guess something powered that little filly to rush because not even about fifteen minutes I see a familiar purple mane and white coat rush through the door with an olive green dress. Didn't expect it but... It was just nice to see a familiar face with a thing to fix me. "Miss Yearling I apologize for being late." She said seeing the little colt at my side. "A little filly you sent is resting at my home." I smiled and stood up.
"No need to censor yourself Rarity... They both know my secret and they both promised to keep it." She gave me the dress and I quickly threw it on. It fit loosely on me but hid my wings away. I went over and picked up my glasses finding a lens cracked. "...I'm surprised you found this place."
"Are you kidding me? Darling I come here for inspiration! I glance in the windows and see if I can spot something that I could use to work off of and when I remembered this was your home so I created an adventurers night out! I had to create some for Rainbow Dash to try on to see how it looked while she was wearing a dark skintight suit that hid every aspect of her and I must say I'm glad I did. It looked really nice. I could possibly make a veil to cover your mane color... but what to use...?" To cut this short I had her take the toys and help Cilantro around and we raided what was left of my mothers closet and I found my father's old camo bucket hat. I remember before he got sick he and I did a lot of stuff out in the forest that had a lot to do with hide and seek. Anyways... after I had completed my outfit Rarity took little Cilantro back to her home and he and his sister both had thanked me for the gifts and the tour and little Spearmint actually started to cry when I said I had to leave them for the Princesses castle. I had to stop and think there and... I knew I wouldn't be doing an adventure for a while so I told her I would try and visit often and when I did I would do so with the Princess. Rarity had me do a thing called a 'Pinkie Promise' that basically forces me to keep it even though I already do keep promises. After that I had Rarity escort me to Princess Twilight's castle. I pretended I was a random mare that was taken advantage of by a guard. I rubbed dirt on my dress, splashed water on it, but I couldn't actually tear it. Reinforced materials.
Once we were inside a guard had to escort me and Rarity to Princess Twilight in her throne room. This castle was... actually nice... I was a tad envious of her but she and I were friends. "Princess!" The guard said bowing in respect to her while I stayed at Rarity's side with alligator tears or what ever. "This mare here was attacked by a guard she claims!"
Princess Twilight, a purple alicorn mare with a darker purple mane with a darker purple and pink streak through it, took one look at me and hopped up from her throne. "Back to your post!" She said. "I'll take it from here and see if I can get a description!" The guard nodded and hurried off. The princess waited until the hoof steps stopped before approaching me. "Good to see you Daring. I take it your adventures are doing well?"
I wiped my tears away and took my hat and glasses off having Rarity hold them. "My adventures were well... I've just been resting and thinking of something I can do before my next adventure so I figured I would visit Ponyville..." I said.
"Oh so you wanted to visit me?" I shook my head.
"Not really but... I would like your help to see if somepony is still around I would want to visit. Blonde mane, wall-eyed, grey Pegasus with bubbles for a cutie mark?" The princess thought for a moment.
"...Derpy Hooves? Why are you looking for her?" She asked.
"Ah... Well... At least she kept the name going... I was afraid she'd forget." I looked at her. She looked confused and... I thought she would be... "Twilight... This is another secret I've kept from many... even bigger than my identity which now eight ponies know. I uh... I have a sister. Who you call 'Derpy Hooves' is actually Ditzy Do... We were raised just outside of town."
Rarity gasped. "My word you're related to her?!" She asked shocked. "I thought she was an only child! It's never occurred to me you two have similarities in your mane! You know some ponies in town insult her for screwing things up!"
Princess Twilight shot me a little nervous smile. "Please don't be mad but... I've accidentally bowled her over when I was practicing a spell that turned me into a ball and uh... Rainbow Dash pushed me..." She said. Rainbow Dash... That was the blue blabbermouth who I really hope is keeping her mouth welded shut about my secret.
I gave a smile. "No worries... She always bounces right back up..." I said. "...You two think you can show me where she lives? I'd like to surprise her." I got a smile from the princess and her friend.
"We would be glad to escort you to Derpy's- I mean... Ditzy's home. Just... give me a moment to inform the guard it was a hoax and that I'm letting you off with a warning." I gave a nod and Princess Twilight flashed away leaving me with Rarity. I was half way between excited and nervous as hell. Excited because I get to see my sister again and nervous because.... I'm afraid she wont remember who I am... Just before we went anywhere I cleaned my dress off so I could look a little bit presentable. Not long after that I was out with the princess while her friend went back home to see if her sister and Spearmint and Cilantro were doing alright. Spoiler alert they were having the best day ever! I'm still keeping my promise to them about coming back to visit them after being an impact in their relationship. Anyways... We stopped outside of Ditzy's home. She had a quaint little two story home sitting atop a small hill. It was amazing she never got off the ground... but of course what am I saying? "Well... Here we are Daring... The home of Ditzy 'Derpy Hooves' Do. I... I didn't know you had a sister. I didn't even know this was your sister until your visit to the castle... I'm pretty sure my friends will be treating her way differently once they find out..." She glanced over at me. "That is if I may tell them..." I sighed just looking up at the home.
"You can tell them but... You'll be the only one to see the Do sisters up close and personal." She looked at me a bit surprised. "...Yep. You heard me right. You'll be the only one to see me and Ditzy together under our real identities. So you in?" She nodded and opened the gate for me as we entered the gated yard walking up the cobblestone path. I teared up feeling like that path was the longest I've walked and for good reason. As we came to the door Princess Twilight rested a wing on my back giving me an encouraging smile. I took a deep breath and knocked wiping my eyes away. It felt like an eternity just waiting there for somepony to answer the door but... the moment of truth came but a minute after.
There standing in the door was Ditzy... Her blonde mane shown more brilliantly than the smile she sported. There were two ponies behind her. A dark greyish blueish unicorn filly with a blonde mane and a brown coated earth pony stallion with a dark brown mane spiked up and a sand timer for a cutie mark. The little filly didn't have hers yet but... Well.... "Hiya Princess!" Ditzy said bowing in respect to Twilight. "What brings you here?"
Twilight gave a smile. "Well... my little friend brought me here." She said taking her wings off my back. I take my hat off and Ditzy's expression turns from smiling to shocked and excited.
"Daring...? Is that you?"
I sniffled giving a nod before giving her a hug. I just broke down crying onto Ditzy's shoulder as the princess moved us inside and closed the door. "...D-ditzy... I missed you so much..." I said. "...it's so good to see you... I see you started a family in my absence..." I looked at the stallion and the filly who both looked a bit happy, the stallion more than the filly. Wanna know why?
The stallion stepped forward looking a bit nervous as the filly followed. "...Well... I know you don't recognize me Daring but I can pick your face out of a crowd without a snag." He said. I gave him a confused look as I broke the hug with my sister.
Ditzy went to his side and kissed him and I could swear she had told him my true identity but... that wasn't the case. "Daring it's the doctor!" She said. "Him gotsa new body!" I gave an even more confused look.
"Well... You remember when I told you about Ahuizotl all those years ago? I've basically been by his side for many many years before I met your family and... well... Since my body regenerates every fifty years or so Ditzy and I have actually started a life together.... Sure she helps me with being a parent but I help her manage all the funds you send us from your books and a lot have gone to this little miracle right here." He picked the filly up letting me get a good look at her.
"Daring this is my daughter Dinky! We adopted her just a year ago and I told her all about you... in this house we are part of the Do family but outside we's Whooves! I'm Derpy and he's still The Doctor!" Yeah.... That's the doctor that has taken care of us all those years... He never told us his name because that same witch or what ever cursed him as well as Ahuizotl. The way The Doctor's curse goes is he lives forever but has to generate a new body. I guess he never told us his name because if he did go and regenerate we wouldn't believe who he was. I'm actually really happy about seeing them both again... I looked to the princess and she was in tears having an entire family reunion be right before her eyes.
I broke away from my sister, my niece and the doctor and approached her. "...Princess Twilight...." I said bowing in respect to her. "...Thank you for sharing this momentous occasion with us... I will send you a map leading to my home... drop by anytime with your friends no notice needed... If you guys are willing to put in the work I can show you guys one more surprise as well." Yet all that was another story. Twilight and I hugged before she departed. I am now currently sleeping in Ditzy's guest bedroom. I told her about the toys I found at the house and she was fine with me giving Mr. Bunbun and the toy rifle away to those kids who I had kindly invited over for a little slumber party with my niece Dinky. They've instantly become friends. Ditzy and I are sharing the bed while the doctor is watching over Dinky, Spearmint and Cilantro. I'm actually thinking of going to Princess Twilight tomorrow to see if she can help Ahuizotl visit Ditzy and not having anyone freak out by the sight of him. This isn't the end but... a new beginning for us. Yes my books will go on but I just want to get a bond with my niece going and that could take a while... I'm sure Ahuizotl can wait for another adventure. He waited for me to heal so why not this?