When you live alone, you can imagine things get pretty lonely, even for Derpy, one of the most bubbly mares in town is no different. But when she finds something that will change her life forever, she has a choice to make, with consequences.
Loosely based on the ever so popular My Little Dashie, see if I can tug at your heartstrings with this. Also this is in a different universe than my other stories, though you may or not spot some references about them in the future.
When you live alone, you can imagine things get pretty lonely, even for Derpy, one of the most bubbly mares in town, is no different. But when she finds something that will change her life forever, she has a choice to make, and as every choice comes, there will be a consequence.
The rain comes down in buckets, and in near seconds I'm drenched. I quicken my pace, keeping the last of the mail in my pouch as dry as possible. Ever since my bills have been going up, I've had to take double shifts, even nightly ones. Usually I'd just deliver them as fast as I could, but with the dark and gloomy storm passing over Ponyville tonight, I'll have to walk.
The route I take is unfamiliar, for I don't use it all of the time, but this mail needs to be delivered so far out of town, and every other way is blocked by carts and full of puddles threating to soak through the envelopes I carried. I wish that it wasn't so cold tonight, the wind bites at the tips of my ears and my face, and I find my teeth chattering.
Despite this unwelcoming evening, my job wasn't all so bad. I loved to see my friends and my family all of the time when I gave them their mail, or when I found them on my route around town. They're the most important things in my life, always there by my side and not judging me for my 'wall-eyed' glare, or my clumsy ways and how something wrong always end up happening in ways I can't ever explain.
I always find myself in tough situations, but somehow, I always get lucky, somehow able to get out of them completely; well, almost. I've had to take a lot of jobs in the past to keep the old run down house I have, and often got fired, many times because somepony always ended up getting hurt, mostly myself.
It wasn't much of a life I had, it wasn't as grand or fancy as other ponies like a princess's, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
But even surrounded by a lot of friends and loving family, I can't help but feel lonely. There's no other pony out there who can truly understand the way I feel, with my derpy eyes and my silly ways, or how I wasn't always so quick to catch on to so many things. I guess that living alone does that to you. Always waking up to plain empty walls instead of anyone else. It just feels as though there's someone else for me out there.
I sighed in relief as I finally approached the mail slot and quickly slipped the mail through the seemingly vacant house. I made a quick turn for home, trying to get out of the gradually pouring rain before I can get home. I can't wait until I can go to my warm bed, even if only the walls and the muffins I baked earlier today are the only things greeting me in the morning.
The wind howled and my ears felt sore from the gushing winds. I continued quickly as I dared on the slippery road, trying to get to my welcoming home as quickly as possible. I'm so glad that I don't have to go to work tomorrow, everyday just gets colder and colder, though I'll probably just stay inside all day and sleep in.
I decided to take a short cut, already starting to feel stuffy from staying out in the rain this late. I went through a passage way with tight space, it was one of the few parts of Ponyville that was full of trash, broken bottles, emptied cider cups, plastic, and cardboard. I pass this place all the time when delivering mail, always managing to frown at the sad scene that differed so much from the rest of the usually happy town. The only times it seemed to fit in was when a crisis happened. Yet clean up always somehow manages to over look this part. I walk slowly to avoid cutting myself on any unnoticeable glass shards.
I can't help but look to my right as I walk past one dead end. Through my drenched mane, I make out a dark blob far into the corner. I stop, not seeing it there before. Any other pony might've had the sense to walk away from it and assumed it was another piece of trash that found it's way there.
But I let my curiosity get the best of me. I walk up to it cautiously, afraid of there being something terrifying inside. The rain seems to fade from existence along with everything else when I hear a small tired sound, drowning everything else out as the world seemed to stop spinning.
I freeze, my stomach doing a flip as I swallow a lump that formed in my throat. I look to it again, deciding on whether or not to leave it or not. But something tells me to look inside. I take a deep breath and walk to it.
Progress towards it is slow, considering there can be anything in that box, that one box, so small and yet noticeable to spark my curiosity. Every step I take is hesitant, but I eventually find myself standing directly above it, noticing a small opening in the flaps. When I hear another sound again, I freeze, my heart begins to pound as I inch my hoof towards it, taking hold of the flap, I squeeze my eyes shut and open the lid.
I eventually open my eyes and turn my head towards the inside;
Only to find a small purple foal inside.
My heart feels like it breaks into two when I notice how thin it is. Dark purple bruises wrapped around it's body. I could count the bones under her purple coat. She looked so fragile and defeated in there, as though she'd been there for days, which she probably had. I notice tears on the side of her face, and find her an unhealthy pale color. She looked so fragile and small, as though the wind would've taken her away had the box not been there.
Who would do this to such a small foal? Who would do something this evil? Where did she come from? Where are her parents? I notice just how poorly her coat had been cared for. I tear up immediately, the lump in my throat only growing bigger as I hear a tired raspy sound escape her lips. She was on her back, only having a small blanket she managed to wiggle herself out of. She couldn't have been a day over two weeks old. She looked defeated, malnourished and ready to give up. She was hugging herself so tight around her stomach as a wind blew, scrunching up in a tiny ball.
Who could care for her? Her parents obviously couldn't care for her. It isn't until she begins to cry and shake that I decide I had seen enough. I reach into the box and start getting worried when I barely get a response. I pick up the blanket, a small horn poking through the tuft of golden hair she has.
I swaddle her with the damp blanket, wrapping it around me in a way so that her front side may face me. Her breathing is frantic and she's so hot and wet. I'm wondering if she has a fever from being out in this rain for so long.
'What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to take care of her when I can barely manage to keep my own home? I can't just leave her out here like this though.' I cradle her close in my arms, finding that she's really weak from her soft kicks, she's surprisingly calm, though she's breathing frantically. I move my head to block her face from the rain.
A crack of thunder causes the both of us to jump, and she starts to cry, bringing her face to my chest. "Shh" I whisper, "you'll be ok." I wrap her in my arms and flap my wings, going as fast and steady as I could to my home.
"Shh." I whisper to her, "Shh."
'What am I thinking? How am I supposed to take care of a for her by myself? Am I up for this?' The faster I flew, the more I continued doubting myself. She eventually falls asleep from the steady beating of my wings. As I rush through the night, I do my best to avoid any unwanted eyes on me. Not wanting anyone to question why I was out so late, or why I had a sleeping foal in my arms.
As I flap my wings, I start to grow more and more worrisome about this decision I was making. 'What will she eat? All I have is hay and carrots, a few other vegetables and the muffins I made earlier today. I guess I'll have to think of something.
I finally arrive home and slip through the door as quickly as possible, setting down my mail carrier on a nearby stand. I rush into the living room, flipping on a light switch to see. She wakes up once the light is on and I stop, immediately going back to crying, her voice was quite raspy for a foal's.
'I have no idea what I'm doing.' I think to myself. 'I just hope that this works. How do I take care of a foal in the first place?' I set her down. gently placing her on the pillows. The sound of thunder and lighting shakes the walls, and she grows even more antsy.
I begin to grow nervous, worried about how to calm her. I try rocking her, but this only intensifies her crying.
"Shh, shh, it's ok." I say. "You'll be alright, there's nothing to worry about." She barely softens and look up to me, her eyes large and full of pain.
"Don't worry," I assure her. "You'll be ok with me." I say, putting on a gentle smile. She continues shaking and clenches herself together in a tight ball. She begins to cry again.
I don't know what to do, all I can think of is give her something to eat, so I scoop her up and balance her on my back, using my wings to keep her there. I go into the kitchen, taking out a milk carton and pouring it into a small pot, warming it on a low temperature.
I set her down on the table across, and she resorts to lying on her stomach, kicking her outstretched legs.
"Shh." I say, holding a hoof to my mouth, repeating myself over and over as I assured her she'd be alright. When that didn't work, I took hold and tried every trick I could think of, but hardly got any results. Eventually the milk was done, and I resorted to pouring it into a bowl and taking a spoon to feed it to her with.
I bring her to the next room, where I cradle her in my arms again and scoop a spoonful of milk. I look down to her.
"Shh, hush, don't worry little one, it's okay. You'll be fine." She looks up to me, big fat tears about to spill over her eyes. "Here you go, drink up." I say, trying to use a light tone in my voice. She continues to look up to me blinking once as her mouth gaped open.
Taking my chance, I slipped it into her mouth. She takes this by surprise, clamping her mouth shut and swallowing. She then turns to me for more. I continue to smile down at her, saying any calming word hat could come to mind, not caring about the stains getting on the couch as she emptied the bowl. After patting her on the back, her eyes begin to flutter, and she turns over from her stomach. Lying on her side ad sticking a hoof in her mouth.
At some point I must've fell asleep too, because the next time I open my eyes it's day light outside, and the storm had stopped. I yawn tiredly, raising a hoof to my mouth. My vision clears a bit from it's blurry state and my eyes find the small purple filly in front of me.
Memories from the night before rush to mind, so fast it causes me to jump. She stirs, and I curse myself for disturbing her peaceful sleep. I lay there for a while, not sure of what to do next.
'This could be my chance to do something before she wakes up.' I think. I stand up, more careful not to disrupt her peaceful state, and head into the kitchen, taking a blueberry muffin or two from the oven. I gobble it up quickly, shifting my gaze in her direction every few seconds in fear she'd wake up. That's when a thought occurred to me.
'What do I tell my friends? Should I even let them know? But then won't they find out eventually? What will they think of me? If anyone else finds out, would they take her away?' More and more questions flooded my mind, and I started to lose my appetite.
She starts to shift more now, and I see her starting to wake up. I move over to her, taking her in my arms and bringing her close. I should clean her, she looked so rough and beaten up. I move to the bathroom, looking at the bathtub to determine if it was too deep for her.
I decide to rule it out, since she's so small for her size, I turn to the sink. I turn the faucets, making sure the temperatures weren't to hot for her. She stares at the water as it fills up the sink, when I add soap to the mixture, I set her in gently, stopping the faucets.
She looks at the water surrounding her curiously, as though she wasn't sure what to do next. I take the soap and lather it through her fur, taking note of her discomfort. I carefully clean her bruises and cuts, not even wanting to think how she got them. She continues to cry as I work through her coat and mane.
"It's almost over soon, I promise." I say sweetly. She reduced to silent tears and stopped pushing my arms away with what little strength she gained. I take an empty container and fill it with water, pouring it onto her so that all of the soap may come out. She sits in the sink drenched, crying her eyes out.
"It's ok, you'll be fine." I take a towel and scoop her up with it, wrapping it around her as she softened. I take her to my room where I find a small brush, and gently begin to brush her puffed out mane into place. She tries to push me away and scatters frantically, but I eventually get the kinks out of her mane. She looks at me with an adorable scowl and tears.
"I'm sorry, but I needed to clean you." I holding back a giggle at her frustration. I roll out a blanket on the floor, setting her down gently upon it and watching as she rolled onto her back and into her usual sleeping position, her cute little purple hooves sticking out through the air. As soon as she's asleep, I stand up and head out the door, shutting it silently behind me.
"Why do you need these Derpy?" A confused store clerk asked.
"I'm..." I rack my brain for an answer. "I'm... foalsitting my niece for a few days, her mother needed someone to last minute, and I need supplies for her." I lie, rushing through my words.
"Aw, that's awfully sweet of ya, how's about you bring her over sometime? I'm sure we'd love to see her." She said.
"No!" I say too quickly. She looks even more confused. "I mean... she doesn't like going outside all the time, and that weather last night gave her quite a scare, so, I'd best get back to her quickly." I say, taking the bag in my teeth, tossing the bits on the counter, and rushing off.
I return home to find she had awoken, and her head was whipping around frantically. I jump and rush over to her locking the door behind me.
'I'll have to be more careful, I can't just get too caught up outside, but I don't want to cause any suspicion either.' taking out the supplies as I go over to her. I smile as I extend my hooves down to her in an attempt to scoop her up.
And to my wonderful surprise, she smiles back.
The joy I felt of seeing her smile, of being the reason behind that grin, is remarkable, her smile was a beautiful thing to me, and it all of sudden felt to me like nothing else could compare anymore.
I want to keep that smile, to see it everyday from when we first wake, to be reminded that there's someone who's happy to be with me. I don't want to ever forget the first time she smiled up at me, or any other time she might. I don't want to feel alone again.
And I'll go at any length to make sure I won't lose her.
"Ok, thank you." I say over the phone. I hang it up, looking down to the bundle on the sofa, wrapped in blankets and sleeping away. I sigh and walk over to it.
The foal stirs, I look down to her, smiling at the way she had her small purple hoof in her mouth, and how the golden little tuft of hair she had covered all but the tiny point at the top of her horn. I pull the blanket she wiggled off of herself back on, and she goes back to her peaceful state.
'I'll have to leave for work soon.' I thought to myself, as much as I knew the dangers of leaving her here alone, and wanted to stay and watch over her, I knew I couldn't provide for the both of us. I run a hoof through her mane, noting at how much healthier she looked.
'They'll be coming for her soon, I'd better clean up a bit when I can.' I think, looking around my home. It wasn't the messiest, but it wasn't the neatest ever. When Child Services comes within the next two weeks, I'll need to straighten my home out. I sigh again.
'Am I ready for this?' I look down to see her with her hoof in her mouth again. 'Can I really raise her own my own?' I look to the clock on the wall and jump, surprised at how quickly time had passed.
I strap on my uniform and grab my mail carrier. Trying to be as quiet as possible. Before I leave, I set her in the bed, atop the pillow, where she smiles warmly and yawns.
'Ok, the next package needs to be delivered in my neighborhood, I can check on her on the way there.' I say, looking at my cargo. I fly quickly, racing past the other houses until I see my own. I stop, going inside to check on her.
I hear a faint crying and go to her, closing the door behind me. I scoop her up, I can tell by the way she was shaking that she was scared.
"It's ok, I'm here." I say, setting her on my shoulder. She eventually stops, and calms down. I take my chance to feed her something and attend to her other needs. I found through experimenting that eating something warm and sweet always sets her to sleep for a god solid few hours. After, getting her some more previously made milk, in record time, she's asleep once more on the pillow.
I step out of my house once more, glad to not see anyone else around. I immediately rush to gettin back to work, emptying my bag in only two hours. When I return to the office, the boss is surprised to see me back so soon.
"Are you done already Derpy?" He asked out of curiosity.
"Yes sir, I finished my route." I say, holding up the bag for proof.
"I'm impressed. Well, since your done, I guess that I'll see you tomorrow." He said, still astonished.
"Thank You sir." I say, but just as I turn around;
"What was the rush Derpy? I know you usually finish early, but never like this, it's hardly noon. Something going on?" He asked.
"No sir." I say nervously. "Just in a rush today." I say, I could feel his unsure glare burning into me as I turn around to leave.
I fly home, deciding I've already caused enough suspicion, I slow down a bit from my rushed speed. But eventually, I just pick up my pace gradually. It isn't until I run into somepony that I stop.
"Humph!" We both shout out. I fall to the ground, noticing several items on the ground from a saddlebag with an hour glass on it.
"I'm so sorry!" I say, taking the items on the ground and throwing them into the bag.
"It's quite alright." The stallion says.
I look up, beginning to recognize the familiar voice.
"Doctor! I'm sorry I bumped into you."
"Don't fret Derpy. It was only an accident." He said, waving his hoof. "Boy has it been a while since I've seen you. It's been a while since we talked hasn't it? Not since the big cutecenera. How's the job?"
"It's fine, " I say, giving him his saddlebag back urgently. " as much as I'd love to catch up, I have to go."
"Oh, I'm sure whatever it is can wait right now I'd love to treat my friend to lunch, it'd be the perfect opportunity to catch up, I've a new invention I've been working on that I want to show you, I just know you'd love it, it has-" He ranted on and on until I had to cut him off, worried about the foal I had at home, she could wake up any minute now.
"I already ate, look thanks for the offer, but I really should get going." I said, a bead of sweat on my forehead, my ears perk up when I hear a faint yelling sound. Before he could continue, I'm already running home in a state of panic.
"Bye then!" He calls out after me.
I breath in deeply as soon as the door is shut, I let my head lean back to hit the door as I slide to the floor. I sigh deeply as I pick myself up and head to my room.
'That was close.' I think to myself as I pick her up. She immediately looks up to me and smiles a toothless grin at me. I can't help but smile back when she giggles up at me.
'I'm worrying too much.' I say as I bring her to the living room, where I take out some toys I got her from the toy store. She squeals in glee when she sees her pink plush.
As I bring her over to it, a golden spark ignites from her horn. I see a faint aura of the same color wrap around her toy, and it floats faintly in the air before it drops. I bend down and set her down, bringing her toy closer to her.
As she sets it in her mouth, my telephone rings from a stand with a picture of me and my family. She looks up, a small frown on her face as I go over to it.
"Yes?" I say over the line.
"Yes, miss Muffins," the pony on the other line said.
"Derpy or Ditzy Doo is fine." I say to her.
"Ok, miss Doo, we've looked through many Ponyville files and any other Equestrian city in the area and have only found medical her records, but we have no other records of the foal you described. Even with the picture of her you sent we found no trace other her parents. Next to a constant name through the medical files. But through research we found that that pony is deceased. We have to assume that she's an orphan."
I stop. "You mean, there's no one else to take care of her?" I say.
"I'm afraid not. Unless your home passes inspection, I'm afraid this foal will end up in an orphanage." She says.
"Ok, anything else?"
"Yes, I need you to answer the following questions truthfully. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"How many ponies are there in your household?"
"Just me, and the foal."
"Ok, what does she usually eat?"
"Mashed carrots, or warm milk, once in a while I use other vegetables or fruits."
"Have you taken her to a doctor for shots or anything else?"
"Not yet, I plan on taking her there on Tuesday."
"Have you noted any allergies she my have? Or perhaps a sickness?
"No ma'am I haven't. Is there anything in those papers about allergies I should know about?"
"There are none. We only found that she's three weeks old to this day. Are any of your friends or family involved?"
"No."
"Where does she sleep, and is she restless?"
"She sleeps in bed with me. And sometime she just wakes up crying out of nowhere."
More and more questions, and I only gave more and more answers, was she able to walk or talk, did she have any injuries, how often does she sleep, does she seem happy there the hardest for me to answer was what I would name her, seeing that no one could find her name in any of the files, for they were all scratched out or erased. The list stretched on and on until at least an hour had passed. In that time I had to resort to my wireless phone, and take care of her. The whole time she looked up at me, not even a trace of a smile on her face.
Finally it ended, and I set the phone back in place. I sighed as I lay outstretched on the blanket next to her, mimicking my state across from me. I looked to her and smiled, but I didn't get one back.
"What should I call you?" I say to her as she turns over on her back, her eyes still focused on me.
I thought back to the conversation and said the first name that came to mind. "Ditzy?" She stretched out her hoof and touched my nose with it.
"Your right, that's already a name other ponies call me." I continued thinking, the doll coming to mind.
"Aura?" I said aloud. It seemed as though she just stared harder.
"Then what do I call you? The possibilities are literally endless." I say aloud. She rolls back on her stomach and tries to stand up, standing as though she was soaking wet. Her kegs wobbled as she got moved her first leg as she'd seen me walking around the house. She loses her balance and falls onto my nose.
I smile and look at her small frame. "Tiny?" She continues to lay on the bridge of my nose, sticking to it like glue. She hugged it.
"How about Dinky then?" I say. She squealed happily and set her head onto mine.
"Dinky it is." I say.
It suited her, seeing that dinky means small, the only downside to it was how much it reminded me of her beat up state when I found her. The word dinky also mean insignificant, and in that box, how she wasn't noticed by anypony for goodness knows how long, how she was ignored and so tiny just a few days before now.
"Dinky." I say to myself, closing my eyes and drifting to sleep as she fell asleep onto my nose. Not as just some foal anymore, but as Dinky, my Dinky.
I wake up to the sound of crying. Sighing deeply I take Dinky into my arms and check look for what could be making cry, she wasn't hungry, and she was clean, she couldn't have hurt herself. She continues crying and kicking her legs. I finally decide to do something that always calms her down.
Ever since I found her, I immediately started looking for ways to calm her down. I found that putting honey on her pacifier always relaxed her. Though I found this trick by complete accident, Dinky calmed down once I gave it to her. She ceased her crying and started to relax. When her eyes started to droop I tried setting her down.
She began crying as soon as I made the motion. I pick her up again, and bring her over my shoulder. I flap my wings and cradle her in my arms. She begins to sleep again as she continues enjoying her treat. When I try a second time when I'm sure she's asleep, she opens her eyes and begins to cry again, she looks up to me and I can't help but feel guilty.
"What's wrong Dinky?" I ask her in my most gentle voice possible. She then begins to reach her hoof to me. I pick her up once more.
"Are you afraid of something?" I ask her, she hides her eyes into my chest, and dampens my fur with her tears.
"You are afraid." I say to her. She doesn't stop crying.
"Shh," I say as gently as possible. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll be here for you." I smile down at her when she looks up to me once more, large trusting eyes trained on my face. I decide to do something my mother always did for me when I was young and scared, though with alterations.
"Hush now my little one, there's no need to fear,
For you'll be alright as long as I'm here,
You're nightmares are done, so you can stop your tears,
For you'll be alright, cause I'll always be here.
When you feel scared, remember that I'll always protect you,
Even when danger seems to come through,
Remember you're never alone, and that you are loved by me too,
For you are my little Dinky, and I'll always love you.
Fortunately her eyes begin to close, but instead of setting her down, I dip her pacifier in honey again and stick it in her mouth, I then sit on the edge of my bed not setting her down. I slowly rock her until she's asleep. I sigh in relief once she smiles in her sleep.
I spin y body around and lay down on the pillows, making sure I'm still propped up. She's completely calm the whole morning, her mouth never ceasing to stop, and she continues until morning.
I finally get the chance to breathe once half of the mail's delivered. My neck was sore from reading the addresses and looking over my shoulder. And the pain in my wings was unbearable. My lungs felt like they would burst from the icy air. I hope that I didn't mix up the addresses, otherwise it's come out of my paycheck.
My legs felt weak and I could barely stand without having to lean on something for support. I wish I didn't skip breakfast this morning. But I could eat when I got home. Where a innocent little filly needed me.
I heave a sigh as I flap my wings and take off. I only hovered for a few seconds before I fell to the ground. I was too weak to use them anymore.
'Oh no!'
"Hey Derpy!" Carrot Top said. I jump.
"Gah!" I shout out.
"Woah, jumpy aren't we?" She said.
"Sorry," I say once I've recovered. "I didn't expect to see you."
"No sweat, I wanted to talk with you, it's been a while. I'd love to catch up." She said, smiling at me.
"Oh, sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush." I say, stuffing the mail in the mail slot.
"Oh a little chat wouldn't hurt." She said. I smile back nervously, I was panicking on the inside, because every one of Carrot's 'little chats' always led to a three hour conversation at the least. I have to think of a lie and fast. I glance to my left and see a pony coughing.
An idea pops into my head.
"Sorry, but I'm not feeling too well." I say, bringing a hoof to my stomach.
"Oh you poor thing, it's a wonder why they let you deliver mail this way, how unsanitary. Tell you what, I'll stop by your house later and make you some of my prized carrot soup. That always makes me feel better."
I grew even more nervous, I just worsened the problem. "No! That's okay, you don't have to do that. It's not that bad."
"I insist, it'll warm you right up after a day like this one." She said.
"No, no, I wouldn't want you to get sick, trust me." I say, walking to the next address.
"Are you sure?" She says, clearly confused.
"Positive." I say. Before she can say anything else, I walk away quickly, zipping through the road.
By the time I finish with the first bag, it's nearly noon. Now would be a better time than any to check on Dinky.
Every second, I look over my shoulder to see if anyone would see me, and I quickly change course to a different route to my home whenever I heard so much as a laugh or the wheels of a cart, taking my several more minutes to get home. But, eventually I make it through the backdoor.
Everything is quiet as usual. I grab a few muffins I set out the night before and eat them hurriedly. I go into the bedroom to check on her, finding her fast asleep, suckling on her pacifier slightly. I couldn't help but have my heart melt at the scene. She looked so peaceful in her state.
Just for good measure, I decide to make that relaxing solution for her real quickly before I could leave. I go into the kitchen, getting out honey and one of the many pacifiers I bought. Unfortunately for me though, I spotted Carrot Top coming in the distance, apparently balancing that soup she insisted on.
'Oh no.' I say. 'I can't let her see me here!' I duck to the ground just as I hear a knock on the door.
"Ditzy? You in there? I brought that Carrot Soup." She said. A few more minutes stretched on. She decided to knock again. "Derpy? It's me, Carrot Top?" She said. I crouched down to the ground, holding the end of the pacifier in my mouth and moving as quickly and silently pass the door as I could. My hair seemed to stand on end when I heard a rustle of blankets from the other room.
'Oh please Dinky, not now.' I thought. I rushed as quickly as I could muster. I breathe a quick sigh of relief once I get to the bedroom door, and slip inside. I find Dinky in there, just beginning to open and rub her eyes. Her eyes caught on to me, and she reached with a smile.
"Shh." I said, holding a hoof to my mouth. I pop her pacifier in place, and her lidded eyes slide close. I can't help but straighten a curve in her hair and straighten the pillow. I turn around and head for the door. Stopping for just a second to turn back around.
Before I exit the room, I decide to plant a quick kiss on her forehead and head out.
I managed to slip out the back door and get back to delivering the mail. I moved much faster this time, no way do I ever want to encounter another experience with the carrot soup.
'That was a really close call.' I thought as I set a package on the doorstep. 'Just a few days from having her as my own. Then I won't have to deal with all of this anymore.'
But apparently, just as I turned around, with the way my day was going, I just so happened to find myself face to face with a certain Doctor Whooves. But to my even bigger surprise, was holding out flowers to me.
"Hello Derpy." He said while looking to his right and turning a light shade of red. I couldn't tell if it was from the cold, or if he was just blushing.
"H-hello Doctor." I say, craning my head back to look at the. They were vibrant and colorful. It's a wonder how he managed to get these type in this weather. Considering that roses and daises weren't often seen in the winter time.
"Are these for me?" I ask, starting to blush myself.
"Well, yeah I suppose. I mean, do you like them?" He asked. I take a sniff and sigh at the smell.
"They're lovely. How'd you manage to get these?" I asked.
"Oh, I decided to grow a few flowers in my home not too long ago for an experiment. I had a few left over, so-"
"I love them." I said, giving the pleasant fragrance another sniff.
"Oh that's okay, they're out of sea- wait, really?" He asked.
"Of course. These are beautiful Doctor." The doctor blushed again.
"Well, I was..." He looked to his hooves and started twiddling them. "...hoping you'd be able to get some dinner Friday?" He said questionably. I was so shocked and taken back by this. I always liked the doctor, but I never thought that he could've felt the same way. It wasn't until a gush of wind came in with reality that I snap out of my trance.
'I have to get to Dinky! I don't have another second to lose.'
"Um.." I said, jumping into the air as I began to hover over the ground.
"I'll think about it, let me see if my schedule's clear." I said. The look of disappointment on his face was heart wrenching.
"Ok then. I guess that I'll see you later then." He sad. With that, he took a turn and trudged home. His scarf dragged in the snow and seemed to take my heart with it.
'I'm sorry Doctor.'
By the time I had made it to the office, It was One, and I was beat. I turned in the other bag, not saying a word before I simply walk out. The walk home was difficult, I felt light headed and my knees were going weak again. I nearly ran into several ponies on the street and knocked them over.
After what feels like an hour, I make it to my house. I teeter inside and lock the door behind me. Landing face first onto the sofa.
I can't help but pace around, looking for anything else I could clean. They said they were sending someone in today, and I was as nervous as ever. Dinky stared up at me from the ground, her golden eyes were following me back and forth each time I passed.
Finally there's a knock on the door. I can't help but jump up as I rush to it. I take a look through it's window and find a primly dressed raspberry mare with a crimson mane who I had never seen before.
It had to be her. I take a moment to breathe in a deep sigh and smooth my mane a bit. Then I open the door.
"Hello." I said, putting on my biggest smile.
"Yes, are you Miss...Muffins?"
"You can call me Ditzy Doo, or Derpy. Either's fine." I reply.
She clears her throat and levitates a clipboard. "Yes, very well Miss Doo."
"Please, come in." I say, moving to the side and gesturing for her to come in. She smiles a small smile and looks around, writing furiously. I can't help but break into a sweat. She moves slowly, keeping a watchful eye on everything her eyes caught.
Finally they land on Dinky, who looks up to her curiously and toddles towards her blocks.
"Seems she in good shape. Any trips to the doctor?"
"I just took her there Tuesday." I say. A memory that I'd rather forget. "Let's just say it Dinky didn't enjoy it so much." I add, not even wanting to mention my own experience.
"Good." She pulls a picture from her clipboard and turns towards me. "This is the picture you sent to us, am I correct?" She says, holding up the picture I took the day after I brought Dinky home in a blue aura.
"Yes."
"Seems she has recovered immensely. I believe that you answered most of the questions with someone else. Let's just continue with inspection shall we?" She says. I nod. "Where is the bedroom?" She asks. I point towards one of the doors in the hallway and lead her there. Though I couldn't miss the fearful yet curious glare Dinky had on us.
She walks in and looks around, writing a comment or two on her clipboard.
"How's she sleeping?" She asks, looking at the bed.
"Not too well." I admit. "She's always waking up from these bad dreams. Then again, I'd feel the same way if I was left abandoned in an alleyway." I say. She nods and writes away.
The next hour was quite possibly the most stressful I've ever experienced. She looked everywhere around the house, she looked for every possible problem that could be found, even did a number on Dinky when she had to look at her toys. She had to read through medical records, ask me personal questions, everything.
I was sweating bullets. It felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. I finally got a moment to breathe when she handed me the adoption forms.
"Okay Ms. Hooves, we just about covered everything. All you have to do is fill out these forms." She pulled a stack of stapled sheets of paper from the clipboard and set it in front of me. I take the pen and start writing the information, feeling a bit of a spark in me. I felt excited, yet nervous at the same time. So much that it was starting to show a teeny bit in my writing. Finally, after signing and resigning numerous times, I give her the documents.
She smiles.
"Congratulations Ms. Doo." She gets up and shakes my hoof with a grin, I nod and smile back, shaking her hooves frantically while throwing thanks at her. She smiles and turns to the door, not before giving a little wave to Dinky, who shyly mimics her. When the door is finally shut, and she's well out of distance of my home, I heave a big sigh and fall to the ground next to Dinky.
She just giggles and tries to climb my stomach, full of laughs. I smile and fix her out of place mane as she works her way onto my chest. "I'm so glad that's out of the way." I say to her. She looks to me and then my outstretched wings, deciding to climb down to play with them.
"It's going to be so hard telling my friends and family about you Dinky." She looks up at the sound of her name. "But now that you're mine, I can finally tell them the 'big secret' I've been hiding." She cocks her head to the side curiously, as though she could understand what I was saying. The look in her eyes just spelled, 'Why hide it?'
Truth be told, I never wanted it to be some big surprise to show everyone. I just wanted to see if I could take care of her on my own before I could let my friends or family see her. Now that the whole adoption thing was out of the way, I can officially call her my own.
I stroke her mane again and look to the ceiling.
"The Doctor asked me on a date on Friday." I say aloud. "I'm not sure if I should go. What do you think? She cocks her head to the side again. It was so adorable. Besides, it's not like I actually expected much of an answer. I turn to my side and sigh.
"I've always, sort of liked him, but I never thought that he'd feel the same about me. Should I go with him on Friday? Or do I just tell him no?" I turn my head towards her. She grins and touches me nose, filling up with giggles again.
"I guess that means I'm going." I say. I scoop her up and give her a little hug, just before kissing her forehead again. She buries herself in my fur and smiles, yawning a tiny bit.
This week seemed to be so stressful for me. Time seemed to be tricking me whenever it'd speed up during the day and slow down at night. I had done so much to prepare for this little date of mine. But the look on the Doctor's face when I told him I'd go was worth it.
"Really!" He said, bouncing in place a bit.
"Yes, really. It'd be nice to spend time with you after such a long week." I said. He smiled brightly. "Where do you want to go?" I asked him.
"You'll see." He said with a sly grin.
All he told me was to wear something nice, even then, I was so clueless on what to wear. I finally just went with a simple blue dress. It wasn't to long, though it seemed a little bit bigger than I remembered it.
After a few minor alterations, I simply added a bit of mascara and hopped into my best pair of matching shoes. I grabbed a good hold of Dinky, who had fallen fast asleep next to her doll. I smile warmly and pick her and her doll up, bringing her to bed.
I grabbed a hold of her pacifier, dipping it in honey as I did often nowadays, and gave it to her. She smiled warmly and hugged her toy, suckling all the while.
Sometime within the next half hour or so, there was a light knock on the door. He was right on time. I brushed at my dress and fixed my hair, before rushing off to answer it.
"Hello Der-" He stopped midsentence as he stared at me. The flowers he held dropped to the ground.
"Is something wrong Doctor? Do I not like right?"
"That's not the case at all, you look dashing!" He said. I can't help but blush.
"Oh you're so sweet, but you look great too. Even better than silly old me." I say, brushing it off.
"Oh not at all! I look so little compared to you," He gasped. "Your look lovely than the stars at night when the moon is waxing to it's full form." He said, pointing to the stars.
"That's an awfully nice thing for you to say. " I reply, feeling my cheeks and ears heat up. He then remembered the flowers he had dropped and scrambled to pick them up. They were a bit flattened, but beautiful, nonetheless.
"The most beautiful flowers, for the most beautiful mare." He said, seeming to bow like a guard to a Princess. I blush a bit more and take them, giving them a good sniff.
"These are lovely." I say as we step off into the sidewalk.
"But of course, as soon as I saw these, I thought of you." He said.
"Doctor, you're being so nice to me, and haven't done much to you in return."
"But of course, you said yes." I hide my face in my flowers, sighing deeply at the fragrance.
After a short walk, we end up at the pond. The moon reflected with it's light across the surface, showing it's wavy water.
I find a small little blanket with a basket on it. An oak tree stood high next to it.
"This looks wonderful." I said.
"Is it...not what you expected? Or not what you wanted, we could go somewhere else if you'd like." He said with a raised brow.
"No, no, this is just perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better place to have this moment." I say as I sit across from him.
I don't know how long we've talked. It felt like time just seemed to stop all at once. He told me funny stories and new things he'd learned about. I told him about how tired I felt from delivering mail, and how happy I was to get a two week break after this one for Hearth's Warming.
I didn't tell him about Dinky, I had my heads so high in the clouds, and so many things on my mind, that I felt ashamed when I forgot the center of my life at the moment.
Before I could even mention it, we had to leave. The basket was completely cleaned out and we both had a good laugh. It had to be a bit past midnight at the least.
"That was really fun." I said as we stood up. Stretching our legs out. "I hope that we can do it again sometime." He smiled.
"Those next two weeks sounds like a good time." He said. I smiled.
"You got it. I have to get home, I need to get in as much sleep as I can right now." I say with a yawn.
"Would you like me to take you home?" He asked.
"No, it's okay." I reply. "Though I'd like you to come over to my house for a visit sometime. I want to show you something." I say.
"When would be a good time?"
"Tomorrow's my last day before I get time off. So how about then?" I say.
The house was coming up in the distance, and I felt a bit nervous about that 'surprise' Ditzy told me about. 'What could she possibly have?' I thought, slumping down the sidewalk.
'Perhaps it has something to do with why she's been so nervous for the past few weeks. I haven't gotten the chance to talk to her as much as I liked to.' Every time I came across to her, our conversations were always cut short, and often she ended up taking a B-line home. I remember seeing her entering her home one day, and she looked cautious.
'Could it be something dangerous?' I thought. I doubt it though, that mare couldn't hurt a parasprite; unless they got in the way of her friends or her muffins that is.
At this point, Ditzy would've been able to see me through her kitchen window. I heave a sigh and knock, clutching another bouquet of flowers. Inside there's a frantic scurrying, followed by another scatter.
Eventually Ditzy makes it to the door in one piece, and smiles. "Hey Doctor."
"Hello Ditzy." I say, holding out the flowers.
"Oh Doctor, that's so sweet of you. But I think I'm starting to run out of places to put these. She gestures me inside, and I follow her in. "Now, I need you to be quiet. And please don't freak out." She says.
I can't help but want to freak out at those words. 'Why would I need to be so quiet?" I thought aloud. I clamp a hoof over my mouth, not expecting those words to slip out.
"It's okay, I promise." She says. She then sighs and leads me to the next room, where I hear a faint giggling. She extends a hoof out in front of her, motioning towards the little foal rolling around on the floor.
She stops when she spots me, and immediately looks up with a curious glare. Her happy little grin turns into a frown, and for a second, I spot a look of fear in her eyes. She freezes, I freeze, and for a second, only Derpy is the one doing anything at all.
"Doctor, I want you to meet Dinky. She's a few weeks old at the moment, and she doesn't like new ponies very well." She says.
I manage to tear my eyes away from Dinky. "Ditzy, is she-"
"I can explain. Come on, let's talk about this over some muffins and tea." She says. The little foal reaches her arms out to her, and Derpy happily hoists her up.
"Before you say something crazy, no, I'm not her birth mother. "
"Mother? But you said you were watching your niece for a while." I say.
"I know what I said." She replies, "But I didn't want to bring any more unnecessary attention; at least until I signed the adoption papers."
"So all those times you were in such a rush, and the reason you'd finish you're work so fast, was for her?" I say.
"Yes." She sighs.
We're all silent for a moment. The little filly's eye's stare up at me, as in any moment I'd do something terrible. Derpy stood up. "Would you like some tea? I may not be the best with it, but it's something."
"Yes Please." I reply.
She sets Dinky on her back, getting out a box of tea and filling a tea pot with water.
"How long have you had her?" I ask. She turns and smiles. "For about three weeks." She says.
"How old is she?"
"When I found her, she was about three weeks. So a little over a month." She says, setting in the tea bags.
"Have you been taking care of her all by yourself?" I ask curiously. She pauses for a moment, possibly debating on what to say.
"Yes. I had to leave her here to get to work. And no pony else knows about her, save for Child Services and you." She breathes.
"Am I asking too much?" I say, feeling a bit of unease in the air.
"No, it's okay. You deserve to know." She says.
"How about you start from the beginning?" I suggest. She looks up to me and smiles her bubbly smile. She then shoots into how she found Dinky, and bringing her home, taking care of her. She mentions adopting her, and starting to call herself a mom. We could've bee there for hours, drinking our tea and speaking to our hearts' contempt.
"So that's what you were hiding huh?' I say, propping myself up onto one hoof.
"I'm sorry Doctor, I should've told you sooner."
"It's quite alright, I might've done the same." I admit. "Are you sure you can handle this?" I ask her. She looks down to the yawning foal in her arms.
"I know it won't be easy. That's for sure." She adjusts the foal's mane a slight bit, getting a golden lock out of her eyes. "But who else could do it? I don't want to send her off to an orphanage. I'm all she has at the moment. And we've both grown on each other." She pauses and matches her golden eyes to mine.
"I couldn't tell you how many times she'd just cry out of nowhere, or in the middle of the night. I have a feeling that she's afraid of being abandoned. I hate leaving her alone all of the time. The look in her eyes if she wakes up just a little bit before I come home, or discovers that I'm not there, it's just....unbearable." She restrains herself.
Eventually, Dinky falls asleep in her arms, sucking on her hoof.
"I should put her to bed. I'll be just a moment. I promise." She says. I smile back at her warmly. Truthfully, I'm not sure what to think, all of this was happening to fast for me to process. I'm just relieved that Ditzy is okay. I felt quite a bit of tension from that little 'surprise' she mentioned.
I hear the light click of a door closing and Derpy walks back in. "I'd love to help you." I say quietly. "About Dinky, I mean."
"I couldn't let you do that, it wouldn't be fair to you."
"Trust me Ditzy," I take her hoof in mine and stare at it. "I want to make this work for us. If we're going to be close," I can tell that she was blushing. "then I want to be close with your daughter as well. She needs some sort of father figure."
"Doctor..." She seemed to have her words caught in her throat, with the way she struggled with what to say next. "You're so sweet, have I ever told you that?"
I smile. "Only a thousand times."
"Well, expect it a thousand more, if we're going to make this work." She leans over and kisses my cheek, I feel heat rush to them as I smile dumbly, causing her to giggle.
"Guess that's becoming a habit of mine." She says.
I'm startled awake by a knock on my door. I quickly turn towards Dinky, and sigh in relief to see that she's still asleep. I yawn and get out of bed, going to the door before whoever was knocking could answer again.
"Yes?" I say, opening the door to find Octavia there.
"Oh! My apologies, were you asleep?"
"You don't have to worry about that. Is something wrong?"
"Well, I was hoping you'd join the rest of us today." She smiled. I look behind her to find Carrot Top with Time Turner, and BonBon was with Lyra. Vinyl waved to me from behind. It took me half a second to notice the falling snow, and the scarves tightly wrapped around their necks. Along with a variety of coats and hats.
"Sure, " I say. "I'll be just a minute. But yo don't mind if I bring extra company do you?" Octavia threw me a slightly confused look. Making me smile widely.
Once I finally got Dinky in her coat and hat, and made sure she would be warm; despite her discomfort with the outfit, I decided to bring her outside.
"Okay guys." I say when I reach the door, hiding Dinky on my back. "Don't be too startled, and don't startle her, she doesn't really like new ponies. A look of understanding crossed Time Turners face while everyone else looked up at me in confusion.
I sighed. "I should've told you guys earlier, but I think that it's time to stop hiding her away." I turn my head to her, smiling down at her nervous expression, and grab a hold of her. I turn to the rest, who all stare at her in shock.
"Is that...?" Lyra asks.
"Yes, she is my daughter, but I'm not her birth mother."
"How long did you keep her from us?" BonBon asked, taking a step closer to me.
"A few weeks."
"Is she the reason why you were always in such a hurry to get home? Or why you didn't want me there?" Carrot Top asked. I sigh and nod.
"She's only about 2 months, so please don't startle her. She doesn't really like new ponies or experiences. I haven't brought her out in a long time." Vinyl, wordless as always, takes a step towards Dinky and smiles. She crouches down to her level and rubs her mane.
Dinky looks up curiously at her glasses, her horn lighting up. A golden glow wraps around Vinyl's glasses, and they casually float off of her face. Dinky grins and so does Vinyl.
"I like her." She says. Before they could end up in her mouth, Vinyl gently takes them back and sets it on her face.
Dinky takes a look at the falling snow. Her first time ever seeing the snowflakes. Her eyes widen in wonder as one gently lands on her nose. She giggles and looks for more.
Once we've walked away from my house, everypony's eyes are latched onto me, and mostly Dinky. Some start whispering, others smile at me, regardless, all of the attention makes her uncomfortable, and she buries her face into my fur.
"Just ignore them." Doctor says, matching his pace with mine.
The rest of the time we spent walking; was time I spent in the middle of the group. Carrot Top was offering me a bunch of things like offers to make vegetable much for Dinky or different variety's of soups for me. Vinyl casually strode next to Octavia, who asked about Dinky's interests. While Lyra and BonBon kept asking me about Dinky's favorite toys and activities. And if they could ever get the chance to watch her at some point.
I did my best to answer them, ignoring the other ponies glares drilling their way into Dinky.
We finally reach our destination in the park, where a bunch of little foals played away in the snow. Some of the looked our way while others pointed towards Dinky.
'Poor Dinky, her first day out in the snow, and she spends it being the center of unwanted attention.' I settle myself next to a pile of snow, where Dinky casually strides into. Giggling at the snow in her mane and tail. She decides to play with it like it's bubbles in a bubble bath, while I just chuckle at the stuff sticking to her face.
"I can't believe you've been keeping her away from us for this long." Lyra says.
"Lyra!" BonBon says.
"No, she's right, I just didn't want to get into any uneccessary situations until I could call her my own." I sigh, a gust of white coming out my mouth like steam from a dragon's. "But I could've at least given you guys some explanation than just hide it away from you all. I'm so sorry."
"Ditzy, if I were to be honest, I probably would've done the same." Octavia said. "There's nothing wrong with having a secret. I'd rather you hide one than lie about it."
"Yeah, Octi's gotta point." Vinyl replied.
I turn to Dinky, and find her covered in snow horn to hoof; giggling all the while. She toddles up to me over the uneven lump on the ground, smiling all the while.
I rub a hoof through her mane, brushing out as much of the snow as I could and smile. To my surprise, Time Turner comes closer to me and Dinky toddles to him, wrapping herself up in his scarf.
"I guess that she's taken a liking to me." He said.
"Ditzy, if you don't mind me asking, where'd you get her?" Time Turner stops what he's doing and looks to me, a worried expression painting his face. Dinky seemed to catch some of the rising tension and looked my way.
"Well, I guess you had to find out somehow."
As soon as I stopped, everybody went quiet. BonBon broke the silence. "She really went through all of that? She doesn't look at all like you described."
"I took pictures, I could show you to prove it."
"I'll pass, that sounds like an absolutely ghastly experience." Octavia said.
We stayed there for another hour or so, Dinky falling asleep despite her curiosity. Just as the temperature began to slowly drop, she started shivering.
"I'd better get her home." I say.
"We'll be sure to drop by some time. Vinyl says. After a few goodbyes, we part our separate ways.
Just as I get home, I take off Dinky's coat and all, and set her in the bathtub. She's still half asleep as I scrub what's left of the snow out of her mane and fur.
"I hope that you had fun today. Because you're going to see more days like this soon." She smiles and rests her head on the rim of the bathtub, not even caring about the water I pour over her. Or the towel I use to rub her dry. Or even when I brush whatever knots made their way into her hair. Once she's warm and clean, her diaper's on, and she softly suckling on her favorite pacifier; layered with honey, I set her to bed. Giving her a little peck on her head.
"You ready to go?" Doctor asked, wearing his blue tie. I wore a normal short silver dress. A slight shade darker than my fur.
I grabbed my purse and slung it over my neck. "When you are." I reply, smiling at him.
"Then after you, M'lady," He says, teasing with a low bow to me. I smile and decide to play along.
"Thank you my good sir." I say, giving him a low bow as well with my eyes closed. As soon as I stand up, we're both laughing and chuckling to ourselves.
"So where are we headed now?" I ask him.
"I got us a reservation at a good restaurant. Let's hope it's not filled to the brim." He says, shutting the door behind me quietly and matching his pace to mine.
"That's so nice of you." I say, matching my eyes to him. I decide to ignore the stares I get from ponies all around, whomever wasn't there to see me with Dinky when I brought her out in public, probably heard about it through gossip. A ton of them have been supportive in the past three days since then, while others, not so much.
Once we were full of chuckles, we mad it to the restaurant, glad to see that it wasn't completely full. As soon as I walk in though, everyone's eyes go to me, making me want to shrink down. Some showed smiles and waved, while others seemed to hold back venomous laughter aimed towards me.
Time Turner decided to catch my attention by pointing and naming the different fish in swimming around in the fish tank.
Once we were at our table, I picked up my menu, looking deeply into it. Partially because of the glares I received. Doctor decided to start up a conversation about a little home experiment with hilarious results. Before we could even receive our orders, I was getting hiccups from laughing so hard.
We finally started to quiet down to a lower volume with a small conversation as we ate.
We told several jokes here and there, and chuckled softly from them. It wasn't however, until I heard a few prim voices behind me that my mood started to dampen.
"Is that the mare with that new foal?" One voice asked.
"You mean that retard over there? I'm sure of it."
"I can't believe that such a stallion would want to spend time with a mare like that. Low paying job, a baby momma, I don't know what he sees in her."
My cheerful smile slowly starts to fade, as much as I try to ignore them, my ears begin to feel hot; much like that one mare's tale my mother always mentioned about how other ponies talk about someone behind their back.
Doctor Whooves notices my expression, and reaches his hoof over to mine. "Are you okay Derpy?" He asks.
"Let's hope that that foal of hers doesn't end up dropping pianos or breaking stages like her mother does." The first voice sneered. I can't help but blush a bit at that.
"Or get her head stuck in mailboxes." The second chuckled. I begin to lose my appetite, and the food in my mouth seems hard to swallow.
"How pathetic, such a shame that mares with a low IQ are always the ones who end single parents."
"Ladies that's enough, what if she hears you?" One stallion said sternly.
"Oh please," The first voice said to him. "What is she going to do? Try and throw a plate of salad at me? You know as well as I that her vision is much too unbalanced to do that."
"Dear, I said that that's enough."
"Oh calm down Filthy, we're just stating the obvious. Everypony knows it." My fork drops to the plate.
"Besides, I bet that little foal of hers isn't any better. I'm sure that she's just like her mother." It was that sentence that made me stand up. I stood there for a moment, biting my tounge and my cheeks to keep from saying anything. I did my best to avoid my eyes from behind me and threw the napkin in my hoof at my hardly touched plate.
"Derpy just ignore them, they're just starting rumors." Doctor said, a furrowed but stern brow on his face. I ignore him and stomp out, the last thing I wanted to do was make an even bigger scene.
From behind me, I heard echoes of laughter, drilling it's way into me.
I also heard two sighs, both sounding tired, one seemed agitated, the other seemed saddened. "Check Please."
We ended up going somewhere else to eat. Both Time Turner and I agreed that it would be better to let it be than to interfere, there's no changing their opinions. No matter how much I secretly wanted to snap their necks. But I simply don't have the guts to chew them out about it.
But Time Turner was a little more than ticked off. "How the bloody hay could they say such a thing? Garish trash talking garbage if you ask me. I can't believe you let them say that!!"
I turned to him. "Doctor, they insulted me, and me alone. They may have talked about Dinky, but they never truly said anything bad about her."
"They called you a retard and said that Dinky would take after you!!" He said.
"But they didn't directly direct that towards her, that was more for me than for her. "
"I still think they deserve a good-"
"Stop." I say quietly. He does as I said. "Let's just forget about it. Please? I can take a few comments. If they directly directed it to Dinky, I'd be all with you there, but they didn't so can we please, please, please, just ignore it and enjoy ourselves while we have the chance?" I ask. He looks to me, a look of anger still hidden behind his face. But eventually he sighed as acceptance seemed to replace it.
"Okay."
The rest of the night ended just as it began, and we ended up having a much better time than when we started off. He even offered to walk me home. The whole time, not a single word about that little situation at the restaurant was mentioned.
Once my dress was off, and I was in the bathtub, I sighed. I thought back to those words that echoed away and bounced on the walls of my head.
Retarded
Pathetic
Low IQ
Single Parent
Over and over those words alone bounced away inside my head. I lay there, resting my head on the rim of the bathtub. I felt hot tears bubbling at the edges of my eyes. And before I could stop them, I found them running down my face and mixing with the bathwater wrapped around my neck.
It started of with silent tears, and then I began shaking. It then got to the point of sobbing until the lump forming in my throat became hard to breathe through.
I sink deeper into the water. Letting the water swish my mane around as the river of tears continued to flow.
I would do it for Dinky. I will push through their words and do my best for her. She needs me, even if I'm not the richest mare in the world, or the smartest.
"Ditzy? Ditzy are you still there?" I stared ahead blankly, not quite sure how to respond. It wasn't until I heard my name for the umpteenth time that I snapped out of my trance.
"Yes. I'm still here." I say. "I just wanted to make sure I heard you correctly is all."
"Ditzy, I asked if next week would be a good time to come see you. Unless my daughter is too busy living her own life for little old me."
"No Mom, it's not that, I just wasn't expecting you to say that."
"Well," She began, "It's been forever since I've seen you and your house. I'm sure a lot has changed over there in Ponyville." I looked to my sleeping filly on the blanket I laid out for her. In her favorite sleeping position.
"I guess you could say that." She chuckled.
"I can't wait to catch up with you, I guess that neither of us could find the time." She sighed.
"Yeah." I agreed. "I really miss you Mom, I wish we could talk more." I said.
"Me too sweetie. But while we have the chance, maybe you could tell me if any new stallions are coming your way?" She hinted, the smirk in her voice was as clear as glass. I blushed and thankfully just then, Dinky started to wake up.
"I'll tell you later," She laughed.
"I'm just teasing dear, I just really miss you." Dinky was starting to rub her eyes and seemed to be looking for me.
"I miss you too Mom, but I really need to get going."
"What could that be?" She asked, still trying to hold conversation.
"I assure you that you'll know once you come over next week. I'll call you later to sort out the details."
"Oh but Ditzy, can't it wait?" She asked.
"Sorry Mom, but it's important, I'll see you later."
"Oh...very well, I'll see you later then dear. I love you."
"Love you too Mom." I say. Just then I hang up the receiver and sigh. I turn to Dinky, who immediately brightens up once she sees me.
"You're so lucky you know," I say to her, sitting down next to her. "You'll get to see your mother all the time. And that's a promise."
As soon as I got back home from work, I went straight home. At this point, everypony in town knew about my little secret, so I didn't have to be so subtle about it anymore. My manager even offered to give me more time off so I could get to Dinky sooner.
As soon as I rang the door bell, Carrot Top came to it with a big smile on her face.
"Hey there Dinky, how was work?"
"It was fine, is Dinky okay."
"She's fine, trust me. She's asleep in her new little crib." Ever since I had put enough money aside for it, I bought Dinky the best crib I could find. She always slept in it whenever I wasn't there.
"Thanks again Carrot Top," I say, rubbing the back of my head.
"I won't hear of it, it's always a pleasure to watch Dinky. I'm just glad that I get to watch her all of the time." She said.
"I appreciate it."
"Don't sweat it Derpy, now I'd better get home, I don't want to spoil your Mother's visit." She said. Before I could say anything else, she trotted away. I can't help but sigh as I watch her trot off in the distance.
The next few hours I spent was prepping for my Mother's visit. Dinky grew bored of watching me fly around all over the place, straightening anything that was out of place. However, my Mother was famous for always showing up early.
The knock on the door startled me, and I nearly dropped the feather duster in my teeth. Before I could say anything else, the familiar cheery voice came through the door, before it stopped altogether. I rush over to see what was going on, finding my mother at the opening of the living room, staring Directly towards Dinky with an open mouth. I sigh and store away the duster in it's original place.
"Hi mom."
She looks up to me with a jump, seeming to break out of her trance. Her yellow eyes dart from me to Dinky as she nervously flutters her aged light gray wings. Her mouth slowly closed shut as she returned her gaze to Dinky. I close the door she left open and move her suitcase to the side.
"Let's talk Mom."
She looks to me with curious yet understanding eyes.
I patiently motion towards the couch as I pick up Dinky, who seems to be backing away from her. I sit and let her bury her face in my fur, hiding away from a new face.
My mother approaches me slowly, still dazed from shock as she sits next to me. I on the other hoof, just patiently and calmly explain to her how the foal in my lap became my own. She; too my surprise asked no questions, though usually she'd be asking a storm.
She calmly awaits until I finish my little tale before her eyes move from Dinky and match with mine again.
For a long time, she stays quiet, looking to me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. It almost made me want to hide myself, let alone poor Dinky who started shaking in my embrace.
Eventually, she edges a little closer to me and moves to Dinky. "C-can I hold her?" I smile and nod. I look down to the foal in my arms, who, sensing my sudden movement looks up to me with nervous and shy eyes.
After much coaxing, I eventually get her to look away to my mother, who proudly wears a sweet smile. I look to Dinky and bring her to my mother.
"She's not really that social when it comes to new ponies. It takes her a while to warm up to them." I caution. My mother, expertly carries her in her arms, looking down to her happily.
"I can't believe it, I'm a grandmother at last." She said the next few lines with a few happy tears in her eyes.
"Don't cry Mom." I say.
"Oh but I can't help it, I can't believe that I have a granddaughter!" She said quietly. She looked to Dinky and started talking to her in a little baby voice. It was an adorable scene to watch. Eventually, Dinky started warming up to her as I thought she would, seeing how similar me and my mother looked, only her mane was closer to gold and her coat darker than mine. Along with the laugh lines she had at the corners of her eyes.
"She's so adorable Ditzy." She told me. "You're really doing a good job of taking care of her. Maybe one day she'll grow to be as amazing a mare as you." She nudged my side. "I just wish you could've told me about this little cutie sooner." She finished, before playing with Dinky's hooves and cooing at her.
"I just didn't want any unnecessary attention drawn towards her until she had a good home. And I'm the only one who can do it. But I'm sorry for waiting this long."
"I'm just glad I felt like coming over today." She smiled, moving a loose strand of her long, paling mane from her face. "I probably never would have gotten to see her like this."
"You still want to catch up now?"
"Of course Ditzy. Tell me, is there a stallion I should know about?" Raising an eyebrow while throwing me a knowing smirk. I begin to blush.
"Well, yeah." I admit, looking at the sofa cushion.
"Can I get a name?"
"His name's Time Turner, and we've been hanging out for a while now." I say.
"What's he like?"
"He doesn't make fun of my eyes, and he thinks I'm beautiful. He makes me laugh all the time, and he's super smart. He says I always make his day and brings me flowers all the time."
"He sounds nice. Anything else I should know about him?"
"Well he's super defensive of me if somepony ever made fun of me. And he likes Dinky. She likes to play with him, and he likes playing with her."
"Sounds like a wonderful stallion." She smiled.
We talked for a long time, talking about anything that came to our minds. My mother played with Dinky the whole time, who took to gnawing on her hoof.
Eventually she started getting fussy, and we had to end our conversation there. My mother sat at the kitchen table as I set Dinky in the crib, wrapping a blanket around her and giving her my little remedy.
"I should come over more often, or better yet, you should come to my house for a change." She said as I sat down next to her.
"I know, I just need to find the time." I say.
"Next time I see Dinky, I'll be sure to get her something she'll like." She claims.
"You could get her something soft." I hint, "She loves soft things."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." She replies.
With that, we continued our little conversation while Dinky slept peacefully in her crib.
My mother said she'd be staying for a couple of days, and she often insisted on watching Dinky while I was away. As much as I didn't want to go to work, my mother often persuaded me to do so.
"She's in good hooves, no need to worry." she told me, smiling with a wave of her hoof. Dinky slept peacefully in her little crib nearby, clutching her little doll tightly.
"I know, I just can't help but feel worried."
"It's tough for every mother, I can tell you that." she says. "but she'll be fine."
"You're right." I say, turning for the door. "But if she gets upset-"
"I know, the honey's in the cupboard."
"Or if she-"
"She's fine, Ditzy. You're acting exactly like I did when you were younger. But I can assure you, she'll be fine."
"Alright, thanks Mom," I say, giving her a squeeze. With a smile, I take one last glance at Dinky, a mixed feeling of relief as well as worry couldn't help but rise, but I eventually turn away.
When I decided to pay Ditzy a visit this afternoon, I didn't expect to find anyone else there other than her. She usually came home at around 2p.m. or so, sometimes earlier, depending on her route. But Instead, she wasn't there, rather, someone else.
"Why hello," the mare greeted, cradling Dinky in a free arm. The tiny unicorn smiled up at me and reached for me. I couldn't help but smile back. The mare looked like a near carbon copy of Ditzy, only her coat was lighter, her eyes were different, and had more of a long and golden mane.
"I apologize, " I say, "I was expecting Ditzy to be home. I wasn't aware she had company. Are you perhaps a sister of some sorts?" I ask. To my surprise, the mare chuckles.
"What a gentlecolt," she said after a round of chuckles. "I'm her mother." she explains. I was taken back. It was hard to believe such a thing, she looked as though she could've been an older sister rather than her mother.
"I apologize, Madam. I could've sworn you were her sister. You don't look a day over thirty." I say. She chuckles again.
"I guess it's safe to assume that you're Time Turner. Ditzy's told me so much about you! I was hoping I'd get to meet you in my visit, I guess that it's fate to have run into each other like this." she grinned. "Come in, Ditzy would never forgive me if I didn't invite you in."
"Thank you, Madam." I say, stepping past her. She closes the door behind me and leads me to the kitchen. Where she settles in her chair and pats the one across from her. "I'd love to chat for a bit before Ditzy comes home." she says. I smile and settle across from her, reaching across the table to tickle little Dinky's chin. Who giggles.
"Ditzy's never told me how much of a lovely mare you are," I say, "I can see where she gets it from."
"Oh, you are too much of a gentlecolt." The mare laughs. "I can see Ditzy's in good hooves."
"You think so, Madam?" I ask.
"Of course, with as much as she's told me about you, I'm sure you treat her nicely."
"It's my pleasure, Ditzy's such a wonderful mare. I imagine she was a joy to raise."
"You're right about that. Sure there were always a few incidents, but my Ditzy's always meant well. Such a shame she went through so much."
"Whatever do you mean?" I ask her. She senses the concern in my voice.
"She never told you?" she asks, her smile shrinking.
"Told me about what?" I ask, my voice trembles a bit from my fear for Dinky.
"Growing up, Ditzy's always had a few, problems with other ponies. As you could imagine, she was often bullied for her eyes, or her mistakes. But as much as she tried to hide it, she went through some difficult times. I can't tell you how many times she's come home, and I'd find her with a black eye. Or how I found new cuts around her forelegs before she left for school."
I tense up a bit. She did such a thing to herself? Are we talking about the same mare? Surely DItzy, such a bubbly mare didn't do such a thing, Ditzy, who walked away rather than yell at others who made fun of her.
"Then there was that one terrible night, when she didn't come home. I remember frantically running through the streets," her eyes became clouded, as though she was actually there rather than here. "I remember finding her in a dark alleyway, and some stallion was trying to...." her lip quivers as tears spring in her eyes, and she quickly tries to wipe them away. Careful jot to wake the now sleeping foal in her arms.
"You don't have to finish." I say.
"I stopped him of course, and poor Ditzy was never quite the same. Even after years, she's always been cautious with walking alone at night. She often glanced over her shoulder or looked in alleyways whenever she went out into the streets, a bit of a habit she developed.
"But then she came here, and she made some friends. As much as I hated that she was away, I knew she was happy here, even if that one part of her seemed to be missing." She glanced up, looking to me with a new intensity. "Until she found Dinky. Now she seems to be like her happy little self again. And you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You support her, defend her, help her, she trusts you. Can you please, please, please, help my Ditzy find happiness. After all the years of pain she's experienced, please help her to keep her happiness." she says.
"I will." I say. "Of course I will. Anything for Ditzy." She smiles, it was as though nothing had happened at all.
"You really are a good stallion." she chuckles. Resuming her casual state, she slowly rubbed Dinky on her back, who seemed to find comfort in the gesture. "I'm sorry to have been the one to tell you this. Especially all at once." She says.
"No need," I reply. "I'm glad that you told me."
"What exactly does such a handsome and charming stallion like you admire about her?" she asks.
"Well, I wouldn't consider myself that," I reply.
"Don't be so modest, you seem to be such a charming stallion. I'm just a bit curious about why you have an interest in her."
"Well," I begin. "I just have to admire her determination, her strength. Perhaps not physical, but I mean how she never breaks, how she's always doing her best to stay together, rather than breaking down. No matter what happens, she's always shown the bubbliest attitude, and the biggest and most beautiful smile on her face..." I stop myself, realizing how much I was talking at once.
"I apologize, I'm ranting, aren't I?"
"You don't need to apologize all of the time. I'm glad you told me. It's nice to know there's someone out there besides myself who can see the good and the beauty in her. Thank you Time Turner."
"My friends call me Doctor,"
"Why, you've got a degree in medicine or something?" she says, smirking and raising and eyebrow.
"Mostly because of my experiments," I say, smiling at the teasing. "But I can understand their point."
"So I guess that makes us friends, then." She says.
"So it does."
We both turn for the door just as it clicks open, and we hear the sound of hooves on the floor. "We're in here." She called out, I could tell that Ditzy was surprised, but she did eventually come in.
"Hey Mom, is Dinky with yo-" she stops once she sees me, and I notice how her saddlebags seemed to have something inside. I wonder what it could be. Perhaps a toy for Dinky. "Hello, Doctor, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hello, Ditzy, you never told me just how lovely your mother is." I say.
"Oh, you." The mare says, smiling my way.
"I can't believe I forgot to introduce you two! Doctor, this is my mother, Dippy Doo, Mom, this is Time Turner. But I'm guessing you two already know a little about each other by now."
"You could say that." I reply.
"What exactly took you so long, Derpy?" Dippy asks, bringing Dinky closer to her.
"I wanted to make dinner for us, so I took the time to shop for a bit, and I found these." Ditzy reached in her saddlebags, and pushing past her ingredients, she pulled out a set of children's books.
"I can't believe it." her mother said. "These are the same stories I read to you," she said with a smile.
"I can't either, I figured Dinky would enjoy them, so I decided to buy them."
"These are perfect for her," I agree, looking through the titles. "I believe she's going to enjoy listening."
"I hope so." Ditzy says, walking over to the counter, where she set out her ingredients. "How rude of me, I never asked if you'd like to stay fir dinner Doc," she says.
I glance at the clock, 4:30, it reads. I don't have much else planned. "I'd love to." I reply. Ditzy flashes me her beautiful smile, and turns to the counter, where she takes out a pot.
