Look Right Through Me

by Crystal Moose

Chapters

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14

Chapter 1

The sunlight drifted through the light cloud cover, warming her grey wings. Autumn was nearly over, and soon the cold winter would fall upon Ponyville. But even with the slight chill in the air, Ditzy Doo smiled as she worked her rounds.

The scarf around her neck was soft, and the little muffin motif sewn onto the end warmed her heart more than the woollen scarf ever could. It was a birthday present from her daughter, and it filled her with such pride. Dinky had been secreting away what little allowance Ditzy could afford her, and selflessly bought her mother a gift.

It was a simple design, stripes of deep and light brilliant amber. She had seen Rarity brimming with happiness when Ditzy had worn it on her rounds. Rarity had evidently taken the time to help Dinky create and sew on the little muffin motif.

“Oh, Darling,” Rarity had squealed with unbridled joy. “Dinky was ever so right! Those autumn colours suit you wonderfully!”

“Fanfs! Fign here,” Ditzy managed to mumble, clipboard in her teeth, blushing ever so slightly. She didn’t talk too often with Ponyville’s self-declared fashionista. Ditzy tucked the clipboard back into her saddle bag.

“Your daughter is such a delight. So quiet, so helpful. When she asked me to help her, I had expected it to be a little like” - she paused ever so slightly - “well, another Cutie Mark Crusader disaster. Sweetie Belle could learn a thing or two from her.”

“Thanks Rarity,” she smiled. Ditzy had wondered if that was really what Rarity wanted to say. Sure, she had heard around town the rumours of the Cutie Mark Crusaders; where the crusaders went, disaster would follow. Sadly, she had heard the very same things said about herself. Had that been what Rarity was thinking before she corrected herself?

Not that Ditzy could blame her, she was used to that reaction from the townsfolk. The irregular gait to her walk and flight, her eye wandering when she was tired. She knew she was a little awkward, but most people assumed that meant she was stupid. Sure, she was no Twilight Sparkle, but that didn’t mean she was stupid. She was just a little, well, accident prone. She also knew what they called her (mostly) behind her back.

Smiling and waving goodbye to Rarity, she continued on her rounds. Letters to various ponies, a pink envelope addressed to Fluttershy, and quite a few, what she expected, letters of complaint to Mayor Mare. After that, she had one letter left to deliver. It was to Granny Smith, out at Sweet Apple Acres. The return address was Appleloosa.

“Don’t worry little letter.” Ditzy smiled at the envelope. “You’re just about there, then you can rest.”

She took to the air, enjoying the flight to Sweet Apple Acres. She didn’t get a lot of flying in these days, having a unicorn for a daughter. Sometimes she missed Cloudsdale, but the scarf against her neck reminded her she wouldn’t trade her current situation for all the clouds in Las Pegasus.

She dared a loop or two, enjoying the wind in her mane. Dancing on the soft breeze, the smell of autumn around her, she could see Sweet Apple Acres in the distance. She was almost done with her rounds for the day. She could go home, play with Dinky, and cuddle by the fire. Her mind filled with wonderful thoughts, the last month spending time with her daughter.

Soon, Dinky would be going back to school. It always saddened her, but then Ditzy could at least start picking up more shifts. The holidays were always wonderful, but they were also a double edge sword. The drop in bits over those breaks was always something Ditzy had to deal with. She worried that Dinky sometimes resented her, because they couldn’t afford the simple activities her schoolmates always bragged about.

The scarf tugged lightly at her neck, reminding her that her daughter bore no such resentment.

“I love you too, my little muffin,” she smiled.

Skimming the top the tree lines, she couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the fall leaves. Like Ponyville was adorned with its own lovingly crafted scarf. Suddenly, her own scarf tugged harder at her neck. Something had taken hold, and she found herself in a terrifying spiral towards the ground. From the corner of one eye, she could see her scarf hanging, caught on the most menacing, claw–like branch of the withered tree above her.

She heard a low wail, and realised it was coming from her own mouth. The pain in her side told her she’d landed on her wing. Sobbing, she looked down at her side; seeing the blood, she let out a scream. Her breathing got faster. A tightness crushed at her chest. She tried to stand; letting out another scream, she collapsed to the ground.

Whimpering, she tried again; the pain shot through her shoulder and flank. She collapsed on her right side, her eyes wandering to the sky. As she felt darkness overcome her, she could see light yellow hooves and crimson fur galloping their way towards her.

Chapter 2

Ditzy woke to a beige ceiling above her, and the incessant sound of a slow, rhythmic beep. She tried to sit up, but was awarded with a jolt of pain down her left side. The world swirled in and out of focus.

“Woah, slow down there, sweetie,” a kind voice to her right whispered. Ditzy turned her head, and saw a powder blue pony with a mint green mane. She was wearing a funny, white hat with a red cross on it.

Panic spread through her. The hospital! She was in the hospital. She tried to get up again, only to be greeted with the familiar pain.

“It’s okay, Ms Doo. Please just calm down, you’re okay,” Nurse Tenderheart soothed the grey mare down. “You just took a little spill.”

“Dinky? Where is Dinky?” Ditzy cried out. “She’ll be coming back from the park!”

“Shh, shh, shh,” the nurse cooed. “The gentlecolt who brought you in said he’d get her. He said Dinky is in the same class as his little sister. They’ll be here very soon, I promise. But for now, you need to get some rest. The doctor will be in shortly.”

Ditzy relaxed back into the bed, now acutely aware of the pain on her left side. She looked down to her wing; it was bandaged, as were her barrel and shoulder.

She drifted in and out of consciousness, her head feeling slightly fuzzy.

“Momma!” The shout woke her. A small, pale–purple unicorn with a blonde mane dashed into the room. “Momma, momma! Are you okay?”

Dinky scrambled up onto the bed, tears burning in her eyes. The filly jumped towards her mother, wrapping her forearms around her mother’s neck. Ditzy winced at the pain in her side, but nuzzled her daughter as Dinky buried her muzzle in Ditzy’s mane.

“Hey, little muffin,” Ditzy croaked, tears in her eyes. “Sorry for scaring you. Mommy’s okay.”

As she cuddled into her daughter, she noticed two figures standing by the door. Dinky’s teacher, Cheerilee, and a large, well built stallion next to her. Crimson coat, yellow hooves.

“Now Dinky, be careful,” Cheerilee smiled, “Your mom is still hurt. Be very gentle with her.”

Dinky looked down at her mother, noticing the bandages for the first time.

At this time, they heard a cough from behind them. A caramel unicorn wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around his neck was waiting to get into the room.

“Sorry,” the large stallion coughed as he moved out of the doorway.

“Ms. Doo, my name is Doctor Stable,” he introduced himself as he looked over her charts. “You seem to have taken quite a spill. You broke the radius in your left wing. We’ve set the bones, but it will take some time to heal. Needless to say, no flying for a while. You should also stay off your hooves for a day or two. Your shoulder suffered some severe bruising in the impact.” He smiled, looking down at Ditzy. “But don’t worry, nothing broken there.

“We will keep you here tonight to make sure you do not develop an infection, but hopefully, we should be able to have you discharged by tomorrow evening.”

“Tomorrow evening?” Ditzy winced. “I can’t go home now?”

“I’m sorry.” The doctor shook his head. “No, you cannot leave tonight. With these types of injuries, infections are most likely to happen within the first twenty–four hours, so we need to keep you here for observation.”

Crestfallen. That was the best word to describe Ditzy’s mood. What would happen to Dinky?

“I have to leave, tonight!” she responded, louder than she had intended. “I can’t leave Dinky alone!”

She pulled Dinky in tighter to her good side.

Cheerilee coughed, and spoke up. “Perhaps we might be able to help with that.”

Ditzy turned to look at Cheerilee.

“I was in the park, talking with Dinky before Big Mac came running. He’d been running all over town asking for Dinky,” she explained as she turned towards the now bashful looking stallion. “Didn’t even realize the filly I was talking to was who he was looking for.”

Ditzy turned towards the large stallion. “But how-” she trailed off.

“You were callin’ for her in your sleep. As, as Ah was carrying you here.”

Both he and Ditzy looked away, embarrassed.

“Quite the gentlecolt, isn’t he?” Cheerilee laughed, nudging him in the ribs. Big MacIntosh’s cheeks grew a shade darker as he looked at his feet. “What we were thinking, was that Dinky could stay at Sweet Apple Acres tonight. A sleep over at Apple Bloom’s, if that is okay?”

Ditzy shifted nervously. She didn’t really know this stallion, though she supposed he did bring her to the hospital, then ran around town trying to find her daughter for her.

Cheerilee, sensing Ditzy’s unease, came close to the bed and added, “The Apple family are a wonderful family. She will be okay there. Big Mac is one of my closest friends, he’ll keep her safe.”

Ditzy looked down at her daughter, who was still snuggled close into her neck.

“What do you say, Dinky? Would you like to go sleep over at Apple Bloom’s?”

“I want to stay here with you,” Dinky whispered. “Why can’t I stay here with you.”

Tears welled up in Ditzy’s eyes. “You can’t stay here, I’m sorry sweetie,” she answered as she nuzzled Dinky’s cheek. “But tomorrow you can come back and you and mommy can go home together. Okay?”

Dinky’s sniffles got louder.

“You have to be brave, for mommy. Okay?”

“Okay,” the answer came, at barely a whisper.

Cheerilee looked down at the pair, then back at Big Mac.

“We’ll give you two some time alone, Big Mac and I will go and have some dinner. We’ll be back soon.”

An hour later, Cheerilee and Big Mac returned to the hospital. They’d finished a light meal, and at Cheerilee’s insistence had brought back a banana blueberry muffin for Dinky. They sat in the room and watched as Dinky happily broke off small pieces of muffin with her magic, lifting the pieces and giggling as her mother plucked them out of the air with her teeth.

Ditzy said goodbye to her daughter, kissing her on the forehead. “Now, you be a good little muffin for Big Mac and the Apples.” She barely concealed the sorrow in her voice. “You be a good little muffin, not a baked bad, okay?”

“Okay,” Dinky sniffed.

“Mommy will be out tomorrow.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

Ditzy gave Cheerilee the key to her house, they’d discussed things that Dinky might need for the night. They bid Ditzy good night. She watched silently as her daughter left the room.

When they were out of sight, Ditzy held her head in her hooves and cried.

Cheerilee and Big Mac followed Dinky as she led them to her home. The small cottage was fairly run down, Big Mac noticed. The boarding of the front porch was warped, and he watched as Dinky skipped over the problem spots.

“Be careful,” she called back.

Cheerilee stepped up to the door first, and managed to get the key in the lock. She pushed the door, but it only opened part way. Dinky darted between Cheerilee's legs and planted two rear hooves against the door, making it give way.

Big Mac frowned as they walked through the door. While exceptionally tidy, the house was very much in a state of disrepair. It was very small, single room cottage. The small kitchen was organised around the hearth, and the bed seem to double as a couch. He smiled as he looked around the room though; every shelf was covered with pictures of Ditzy and Dinky.

Dinky jumped onto the bed, and picked up a small pink blanket in her teeth.

“Cam I brim dif?” she asked.

“Of course you can, my little pony,” Cheerilee smiled, as she set about gathering the things Ditzy had asked her to organise. She packed them all in a small brown saddlebag.

“Shall we be off?” Cheerilee beamed.

“Eeyup”

Chapter 3

Big Mac and Dinky walked Cheerilee home. After saying good night, they started the trek to Sweet Apple Acres. The sun was setting, and Dinky was beginning to yawn. They walked in silence, Big Mac unsure what to say to the diminutive unicorn walking beside him.

“Uh- do ya play with Apple Bloom much?” he asked, awkwardly.

Dinky looked at her hooves. “Not really” she muttered, barely audibly.

“Who do you play with at school then?”

“Don’t play with anyone,” she whispered.

“Hmm,” he responded.

They fell back into silence.

Dinky continued to yawn, and started to stumble. Big Mac stopped, and laid down on the ground.

“Come on,” he gestured for her to climb onto his back.

Dinky sat down as they stopped, but turned to him and shook her head.

“I can do it,” she told him, determination in her eyes.

Big Mac smiled at her, and got back up. “Okay. Let’s get movin’ then. But if you do get tired, let me know.”

Dinky managed to walk all the way to Sweet Apple Acres, and Big Mac led them into the house.

“Where in tarnation have you been?” Applejack bore down on Big Mac. “Ah had to work the south field all by mahself!”

“Ahem,” Big Mac coughed as Dinky walked in beside him. Applejack looked down, confused.

“Apple Bloom,” he hollered. “You got a friend visiting.”

“Coming!” Crashes were heard coming from upstairs. The small yellow filly crashed as she hit the bottom of the stairs.

“Who’s here?” she squealed with joy. “Is it Sweetie Belle? Or Scootaloo? or–” She broke off. “Why's Dinky here?”

Dinky hid behind Big MacIntosh.

"Dinky’s here to stay the night,” Big Mac answered both the questioning looks from Applejack and Apple Bloom. “Her mother had a bit of an accident and has to stay in the hospital tonight.”

“Apple Bloom, can you go upstairs and set up a bed while Ah talk to yer brother?”

Applejack looked down at Dinky. “Hey darlin, m’ah name’s Applejack. You had anything for dinner?”

Dinky shook her head, still partially hiding behind Big Mac.

“Well come on in, and let’s get you somethin’,” she smiled. “How about some apple pie?”

Applejack went to the kitchen, and served up a slice of apple pie, and brought it to the table where Dinky was sitting. “Now you eat up, sugarcube!”

She left Dinky eating the pie and turned towards her brother. “Now, d’yah mind explainin’ ta me what in the hay happened?”

“Eesh, that must have been one hay of a tumble,” Applejack exclaimed, after Big Mac had told her what happened. “And she’s gon’ an broken her wing.”

“Eeyup.”

“Wait- Ditzy? You mean Derpy?”

Big Mac frowned. “Huh?”

“The mailmare. It’s what everypony calls her. Derpy or summit. S’what Rainbow called her. Remember she was the one who messed up Town Hall before I went to the Canterlot Rodeo? From what Ah hear from RD, she’s always crashin’ in ta stuff.”

At that moment, Apple Bloom returned downstairs.

“Bed’s been made up,” Apple Bloom muttered. “Ah’m goin’ ta bed.”

“Didn’ ya want ta stay up and play with yer little friend?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

Apple Bloom looked over at Dinky, who was still slowly prodding and dissecting her pie.

“Nah, Ah’m plum tuckered,” she replied, eyes darting about. “Ah just think Ah’ll go get some sleep.” Apple Bloom turned and went back up to her room.

Applejack and Big Mac just looked at each other.

After Dinky had finished her pie (she had evidently separated the crust from the apples, and had eaten them separately), Applejack took her to wash up while Big Mac cleaned her plate. Applejack trotted back down the stairs.

“She’s all tuckered out. Ah put her in the guest bedroom,” Applejack sighed, “poor li’l darlin.”

“Eeyup”

Big Mac climbed the stairs wearily, he’d just finished a bottle of cider with Applejack. He meandered his way to his own room, when he heard soft sobs. He knocked on the door to the guest room, and then made his way in.

“You okay?” he asked, cursing himself for sounding as gruff as he did.

Dinky sniffed in response.

Big Mac made his way to the bed, and sat down next to it.

“You miss yer ma?”

More quiet sniffs, followed by sobs.

"Wait here!” Big Mac got up, and went into his room, and grabbed a small grey doll with blue and white spotted pants.

“This here is Miss Smarty Pants,” he said, dropping the doll on the bed. “She’s a very special, very clever doll. She kept a princess company when she was a lonely little filly.”

Dinky rolled over, eyeing the doll.

“A princess?” she whispered.

“Eeyup!” he smiled. “Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

“How come you have her?”

Big Mac choked back a cough. “She, uhh, gave her to me, and now, Ah’m giving her to you. She’ll keep you safe, and she’ll make sure your mom gets better very soon.”

Dinky reached towards the doll, pulling it in close to her chest.

“She’ll make momma better?”

“Eeyup. You just cuddle her tight, and she’ll help your momma get better.”

Dinky closed her eyes, holding the doll as tight as she could. Big Mac pulled Dinky’s small pink blanket over her shoulders, and tucked her in.

Big Mac turned to leave, only to find his sister looking at him from the door, barely stifling a laugh.

The next morning, Big Mac was up early, heading out into the fields to catch up on the work he’d had to leave the previous day.

“Now ain’t you jus’ a big ol’ sweetie,” Applejack laughed behind him.

A sharp buck to the trunk of the tree he was working on, and the autumn leaves came down. Right on top of the smirking Applejack.

“What th’ hay?”

“Gotta catch up with these leaves,” Big Mac just looked at his sister with a grin. “Can’t leave all the work to my sister. Who knows who might get hurt if you try to do everything on your own again?”

Applejack frowned.

“Ah jes came here ta tell ya lunch is ready!”

Big Mac looked up at the sky. Had he really been out here that long? He’d been out here not long after dawn.

He followed Applejack back to the house. Sitting out the front, alone, was Dinky. She was picking up rocks with her magic, looking at them, then putting them back down again. He trotted up to her and looked down. She had been arranging the rocks by size and colour. There were four neat piles, and she had delicately stacked the smaller rocks on top of the larger rocks. They looked like the small cairns used to make the trails into the Everfree Forest.

“G’mornin’ Dinky”

Dinky looked up, startled by Big Mac’s sudden presence. “G-good morning,” she replied, looking back down at the piles at her feet.

Big Mac looked around for his little sister. “You not playing with Apple Bloom?”

Dinky shook her head. “She went off with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.”

Big Mac frowned. “How did you sleep last night? Did Miss Smarty Pants help?”

“She did!” Dinky looked up at Big Mac, with a wide grin. “I just know momma’s going to come home tonight!”

“Well, did you want to come in for some lunch?”

“No thank you, I’m okay. Granny Smith made me some apple slices.”

At least somepony was making an effort to make Dinky feel welcome. He turned and went inside, as Dinky returned to sorting and stacking her rocks.

Apple Bloom came bounding in with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and they fell upon the lunch with the voracity of a pack of timberwolves. Shouting their thanks, the three dashed for the door. Big Mac called Apple Bloom back as the others went outside.

“What’s up, Big Mac?” Apple Bloom smiled, as Applejack sat down next to her.

“Just wondering why Dinky’s all alone out there.”

“Huh?” Apple Bloom asked, eyebrow raised. “She’s always like that. Playin’ with her rocks.”

“Ah think what Big Mac is askin’, is why yah didn’t ask her to play with y’all?” Applejack added.

“Well-” Apple Bloom shifted uncomfortably. “She’s jus’ kinda weird. Don’t nobody really play with her, she just plays with those rocks. Ah mean, who does that? Rocks?”

Applejack continued. “Maybe she only plays with rocks because nopony invites her to play?”

“Don’t nopony ask her to play cause she’s” - Apple Bloom looked out the window - “weird!”

“Apple Bloom!” Big Mac raised his voice.

“Now hold on there jus a moment, Big Mac,” Applejack interjected again. “If Ah remember, it weren’t too long ago you were struggling with friends. Some kids at school were teasin ya for being a blank flank?”

“Yeah?” Apple Bloom responded, cautiously.

“And yah remember how lonely y’all felt, before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came along?”

“Yeeeeah.” Apple Bloom frowned, obviously thinking more about it.

“And Ah don’t know if y’all noticed, but Dinky don’t have a cutie mark either, and might be feelin a bit lonely-”

The words sunk in, and it dawned on Apple Bloom. “WE SHOULD ASK HER TO BE A CUTIE MARK CRUSADER!”

“There yah go,” Applejack smiled.

Apple Bloom jumped off the seat and bound out the door.

They could hear outside a loud, “Heya Dinky. Wanna come and be a cutie mark crusader with me, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?”

Applejack laughed, and Big Mac put a hoof to his face, as they heard the quiet Dinky stammer out a yes.

“Ah don’t know if I helped her, or landed her in a whole heap o’ trouble.”

“Eeyup.”

Later in the day, Apple Bloom returned, beaming, with a nervous looking Dinky in her tow.

“And tomorrow, we’re goin’ ta try getting our cutie marks in gee-ol-ogy,” Apple Bloom yelled as she burst through the door.

Big Mac had packed the small brown saddle bag, a certain small doll poking out the top.

“Time to go see your mom, Dinky.”

A thoroughly exhausted Dinky looked up at him, and smiled. “Momma’s going to come home?”

Big Mac nodded. “Cheerilee’s at the gate, we’ll be heading out soon.”

“Oh, Dinky! Make sure you come to the club house tomorrow. We gotta make you an official member!”

Dinky smiled wearily, and Big Mac hid a chuckle. “Whelp, it’s time to go.”

Chapter 4

No sooner had they rounded the bend from the farm, Dinky started stumbling.

“You okay, Dinky?”

“I can walk.”

Big Mac got down on the ground, and hoisted the protesting Dinky onto his back. “S’okay, I know you can walk. But this is okay too. It’s how I got your mom to the hospital.”

Dinky fidgeted, but slowly settled. Soon she had fallen asleep.

Cheerilee frowned. “Oh dear, did she not get much sleep last night?”

“No,” Big Mac responded, “she was introduced to the Cutie Mark Crusaders this afternoon.”

“Oh my,” Cheerilee chuckled. “Well, it’s good to see her making friends at least.”

“Why doesn’t she have friends?” Big Mac looked to his friend. “She seems a lovely little filly.”

“She may not look it, but she’s two years younger than all the other foals in her class.” Cheerilee’s smile dropped. “She’s very bright, but also very shy. When she was put forward two grades, she didn’t know how to deal with the older kids. And a few of the foals also have a bad impression of her because- well, you know her mum’s a little different. Most people don’t think much of her. And some of them bring that to school.”

Big Mac hadn’t had a lot to do with the grey mare, nor had he heard much about her, beyond what AJ told her the night before.

“She seemed fine to me,” Big Mac responded. Thinking back, he added “and she’s all about her daughter. Can’t fault her for that!”

“Well, some people think she is, uhh, well.” Cheerilee thought hard on how to say it. “Well, you know what people think of you, because you’re big, and don’t talk much.”

“Ahh.” Big Mac frowned. “But why would they think she’s... stupid?”

“Because adults can be as judgemental as foals,” Cheerilee kicked her hoof on the dirt road. “How she looks, how she walks. And she’s a single mom. A lot of older ponies around here frown on that.”

“So the foals ignore Dinky because she’s quiet, and ponies talk about her mom?”

Cheerilee sighed. “It’s a small town. Ponies gossip. And gossip cascades.”

Dinky awoke as Cheerilee helped her off Big Mac’s back. Blinking, she looked around, a little confused. Where was she, and why were there so many ponies around?

It came back to her with two words.

“Muffin Crumb!” Ditzy got out of the wheelchair she was sitting in, and limped towards the young foal. Dinky ran towards her mother and was pulled into a tight embrace.

“Momma, you’re better!” Dinky sobbed. “Miss Smarty Pants did help!”

Ditzy looked up at Big Mac and Cheerilee with the unspoken question. Cheerilee shrugged, though Big Mac seemed to be very focused on a poster on the wall of the discharge room.

“Well,” Cheerilee chirped. “Why don’t we get the two of you back home?”

The discharge took a little over half an hour. A young nurse with a tied back pink mane insisted, despite Ditzy’s protestations, that she had to be wheeled out of the hospital in a chair. After that, Big Mac and Cheerilee followed Ditzy and Dinky’s slow pace back to their house.

They could overhear Dinky excitedly telling her mother about the afternoon she had with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and how tomorrow they were going rock collecting. Dinky said they had the idea when Scootaloo asked why she had picked up a small piece of quartz.

Behind them Cheerilee and Big Mac grimaced as Dinky mimicked the cry “Cutie Mark Crusaders Geologists, yay!”

Big Mac stepped forward to open the door for Ditzy and Dinky; aware that it was both courteous, and in her current bandaged state she would probably hurt herself trying to unstick the door. As it was, Big Mac barely had to apply any pressure. Cheerilee smirked at him as she walked through, bumping her flank on his as she passed.

Ditzy made her way to the kitchen. “Can I make you two a cup of tea, perhaps?”

“That would be lovely; but please, let me help with that.” Cheerilee followed.

Big Mac took the saddlebag off and put it on the ground next to him. Dinky started to unpack and put away everything in a meticulous order. Once again, Big Mac looked around the room. He noticed a small wooden box, with a glass front. Inside were rocks of all colours and types. Each one had a small piece of paper identifying the stone by type, and where it was found.

On the shelf next to it was a wide array of tattered books. Looking at their spines, they were various books on unicorn magic. Most of them were well beyond a school fillies level, though they looked like they’d seen years of use.

“‘scuse me, Mister MacIntosh.”

Big Mac turned around. Before him, Dinky was delicately holding Miss Smarty Pants with her magic.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring her with me. You should take her home.”

Big Mac looked down at the tattered old doll. He loved the doll, but shook his head in protest.

“Nope! Ah’d say she’s already home.” He smiled as he nudged the doll back towards Dinky. “She told me last night. She said that she’d miss me, but that Ah had to let her go and live with her new friend.”

Big Mac was taken aback by the small forearms now wrapped around his neck. “Thank you Mister MacIntosh.”

“Call me Big Mac. That’s what my friends call me.”

After their tea, Big Mac and Cheerilee bid farewell. Big Mac told Dinky he would bring Apple Bloom in with him tomorrow for the markets; they could go crusading from there. Dinky said goodbye with yet another hug.

Ditzy and Dinky finished their dinner. As the sun dropped, so did the temperature. Ditzy covered both of them with the small pink blanket, as they settled down in front of the fire. The wind blew outside, rustling through the old thatch above them. Maybe she could get her landlord to fix that at the very least.

The next morning, Dinky and Ditzy made their way to the morning market. Dinky ran straight to the Apple family’s stall, as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle bounced towards her with screams of “You made it!”

Ditzy made her way very slowly around the market, looking for what she would need for the week. She sighed as she looked into her bit purse; it was particularly light, and the coming week without work meant she would have to be exceptionally frugal this week. Seasonal fruit and vegetables were right out.

She’d managed to barter down the price on lettuce, by buying a head with slightly wilted leaves. She always managed to get a reasonable price on carrots from Golden Harvest (her husband adored Dinky), though Roma refused to budge on the price of tomatoes. She rounded the market, finishing at the Apple family stand. She looked at the price of a bag of apples, then forlornly at her very diminished bag of bits. Ditzy sighed, and started to walk away.

A voice stopped her.

“Well howdy thar partner. Ah’m gunna make a guess yer that little Dinky’s ma, am Ah right?”

Ditzy turned back to see who’d called her. Coming out from behind the stand was an orange coated pony, wearing a brown Stetson. She held out a hoof.

“Name’s Applejack,” she introduced, as she shook Ditzy’s hoof. Not that Applejack really needed introduction, everypony in Ponyville knew Applejack, one of the Elements of Harmony. Personal friend to Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“Ditzy,” Ditzy muttered shyly. “Ditzy Doo.”

“Big Mac’ll be back soon, if yah want ta stick around and say ‘Hi’,” Applejack grinned. “Ah’m just about done with mah shift. Gunna go grab summ'it ta eat. Well, speak of tha devil!”

“G‘mornin, Ms Doo,” Big Mac nodded as he approached.

“Yeeeehaaaaw! Free at last!” Applejack yelled, as she reared on her hind legs. “Well Ah’ma rustle on down to the café, Big Mac. Meeting Rarity and Pinkie for lunch.”

Big Mac was giving her the strangest look. He would look to her, then dart his eyes towards the grey mare next to him. And again. And again. What in tarnations was the big lug- Oh!

“Ditzy, Ah can call ya Ditzy, right?” Ditzy nodded. “Why don’t you come along? Ah’m sure the girls would be happy for you to join us.”

“Ummm,” Ditzy stammered, then looked away embarrassed. “Thank you for the offer, but I, umm, I don’t really have the bits for it.”

“Nonsense! It’ll be mah treat!” Applejack grinned. “Now jus leave yer groceries here, Big Mac’ll look after ‘em till yah get back.”

“Eeyup” he nodded in response.

He placed the saddlebag behind the stall, and watched as Ditzy and Applejack headed towards the café. As they left, he noticed Ditzy kept looking back, a nervous look on her face.

“Oh, Ms Doo,” Rarity smiled over her coffee, seeing Applejack walking in with Ditzy. “I assume you’ll be joining us for our little déjeuner?”

“No silly, this is the first time Ditzy has joined us, so how could it be a day joo nay? That’s only if something’s happened before.”

Rarity rolled her eyes.

“That is Déjà vu, dear. I said déjeuner. It means lunch.”

“Ooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” Pinkie’s eyes grew wide.

“Please, come join us.” Rarity offered the extra seat with her hoof. “The more, the merrier.”

A loud pop sounded in her right ear, and she turned to see Pinkie wearing a yellow and purple spotted party hat. Small streamers and confetti rained down over Ditzy’s face.

“Welcometoyourveryfirsthasn’thappenedbeforebecauseit’salunchnotasomethingthathashappenedbefore lunch PARTY!”

Ditzy backed away from the flailing pink mare as Applejack sat down.

“How ‘bout we make it just a regular ol’ lunch, Pinkie?”

“Awwwwww, but streamers,” the pink pony pouted.

“Well, now that everyone is here, shall we order? I’m famished.”

“Sounds good Rare! What’ll y’all be havin?”

“I think a daffodil and daisy salad.”

“Cupcakes!” Pinkie shouted.

“Pinkie, yah can get cupcakes from yer own bakery. Why get some here?”

“Because I haven’t had the cupcakes here, silly.”

Ditzy looked down at the menu before her. There was a lettuce sandwich she thought she could spare a few bits for. When the waiter came around, they ordered, then the three friends dropped into their normal chit-chat, while Ditzy sat rather awkwardly trying to follow the conversation.

“You won’t believe it gals, but the Crusaders have found themselves another filly!” Applejack spoke up. “This ‘ere mare is the proud momma of the newest Cutie Mark Crusader!”

Ditzy blushed, unaccustomed to being the centre of attention.

“Oh dear,” Rarity shook her head while patting a comforting hoof on Ditzy’s own. “And she was so quiet and wonderful. Well, perhaps she’ll be a stabilizing force on the young ones.”

Applejack and Pinkie Pie giggled at that.

“Oh, but Dinky is such a sweetie, didn't you know?” Rarity asked the girls.

“She sure is!” Applejack laughed. “Why, when she was stayin’ at our house, she was so sweet. Kept asking if Granny Smith needed a glass of water or anythin’. Granny was mighty impressed with her manners. Maybe she can help the Crusaders get their cutie marks in manners!”

The girls giggled, and Ditzy blushed. But on the inside, she swelled with pride. She knew her daughter was so wonderful, kind and gentle. But to hear that others were seeing this too, it made her proud.

The waiter delivered their order to the table, and Ditzy slowly picked at her sandwich, savoring each bite. She noticed Rarity doing the same, though Applejack and Pinkie bore down on their own food like ravenous timberwolves.

Rarity dabbed her mouth with a white napkin. “Did you see the wonderful scarf Dinky helped me make for Ditzy? I was amazed that someone so young would have such impeccable stitch work.”

“Oh dear, I might very well be out of a job soon.” Rarity swooned in her trademark overly dramatic fashion.

The girls all laughed. All except for Ditzy.

Ditzy started to shake; she closed her eyes to hold back the tears.

She’d lost it. She’d lost the precious gift her daughter had made for her. The precious gift her daughter had sacrificed so much to make for her. Tightness spread through her chest. Maybe it was at the hospital. They might have it there, not knowing it was one of her belongings. She fished out three bits, left them on the table, and scrambled to the door.

“Sugarcube, is everything alright?” Applejack called out.

“Sorry, I gotta go.” Ditzy called back over her shoulder. “Thank you for lunch”

And with that, she was out the door.

Chapter 5

The pain in her shoulder burned. Her odd canter normally drew queer looks, but injured as she was, she knew her running was what was drawing the stares and laughs. Normally she was self-conscious of it, of the laughter and the looks. But right now, she did not care. It took her far longer than she’d wanted to get to the hospital. She cursed her broken wing; had she been able to fly, she was certain she could have out-flown even Rainbow Dash.

She burst through the doors of the ER and limped to the counter. Tenderheart, the nurse whom had woken her two days earlier, was at the triage desk.

“Ms Doo,” she frowned, looking at the dishevelled-and-obviously-not-resting pony approaching her desk. “I did not expect to see you back so soon.”

“Dinky,” she panted.

“Is something the matter with your daughter?” Nurse Tenderheart sat up in alarm.

Ditzy furrowed her brow, trying to slow her heart and her breathing.

“Scarf,” she got out, still panting, but beginning to slow.

“Scarf?” Nurse Tenderheart asked, now thoroughly confused.

“My. Daughter's scarf! Yellow and. Brown. Little muffin.” Each word came out in a heavy pant.

Nurse Tenderheart waited for Ditzy to calm down. Thankfully it had been a slow day, and there were no patients needing to be triaged at that moment.

“Now calm down dear, let yourself relax. When you have your breath back, tell me what you need and I will help.” She got up, filled a small cup with water, and passed it to Ditzy.

Ditzy started to calm, as much as she could, with the now searing pain in her shoulder. When her breathing was under control she was able to describe the scarf, and that it should have been with her when she came in. The nurse sadly replied that there was no such scarf when she was brought in, she was on triage that day when Big Mac had brought her in.

Ditzy gave in to her tears. She’d lost it. The precious gift her daughter had saved so hard for her. She broke down in the ER, paying no mind to anypony around her.

“I'm stupid,” she wailed. “Everypony is right, I'm stupid and useless.”

Nurse Tenderheart called another nurse to the desk, and led Ditzy into the lounge. She brought a small cup of tea over and offered it to Ditzy.

“Now, you shouldn’t blame yourself, accidents happen,” she tried hard to sooth the sobbing grey mare. “And who knows, it might still turn up. I will keep an eye out for it, just in case.” She offered the last words meekly, there was little chance the scarf would wind up there.

“I just don’t know what went wrong,” the grey mare sobbed. “I try so hard. I try so very hard for her.”

“Why don’t you ask the stallion who brought you in? Mr MacIntosh, wasn’t it? Maybe he has seen it?” The nurse nudged Ditzy’s neck. “It’s at least worth a try, isn’t it?”

When Ditzy had calmed down, Nurse Tenderheart returned to her duties. Ditzy left the hospital, her shoulder now very tender, and made her way back to the markets.

“Ah dunno what happened, Big Mac,” she overheard Applejack as she approached the stall. “She jus’ up and shot out like a fruitbat outta Tartarus! Oh-”

Big Mac and Applejack turned to see the miserable looking mare coming towards them. They could see her eyes were puffy and red; the telltale signs of someone who’d been crying.

“Y’all right there Sugarcube?” Applejack came and put a hoof around Ditzy’s neck. “We were mighty worried when yah done bolted on us. Me ‘n the girls have been lookin for yah.”

A small sniffle came from under her mane, as Ditzy dipped her head forward. “Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry,” Applejack let her out of the hug, “but if summits happened, talk to us. We’re yer friends.”

Friends? Ditzy stopped. Really? These two barely knew her. Why would they be friends?

Of course, they had rushed her to the hospital. But anypony would have done that. They’d looked after Dinky for her, and that was very generous of them. Applejack had even invited her out to lunch, before Ditzy had so rudely left.

“Friends?” Ditzy asked weakly.

“Well of’course we’re yer friends, yah silly filly!”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac added, nodding.

“I lost something, I think, in the crash,” Ditzy turned to Big Mac. “When you found me, was I? Ummm, was I wearing a scarf?”

Big Mac shook his head. Ditzy slumped, crestfallen.

“Yah mean Dinky’s scarf,” Applejack asked, things finally dawning on her. “The one she made for yer birthday?”

“What will I tell her?” Ditzy nodded her head, sitting dejected.

“Well don’t you worry your lil’ head about it! Big Mac and I will find it!” she turned to Big Mac, “Right, big brother?”

Confused, Big Mac nodded his head, still unsure of what was going on.

“Now why don’t you head on home, Ditzy? Big Mac and Ah’re done for the day. Ah’ll get Big Mac to stop us on the way home, and we’ll find that scarf for yah.”

Ditzy continued to sniffle, but smiled hopefully, as Applejack helped her into her saddlebags.

“Ah dare say that daughter of yours’ll be home by now, likely tired from a day of playing with the fillies.”

Ditzy smiled and waved as she walked off, leaving the two siblings to talk.

“What just happened, sis?”

Applejack frowned. She brought a hoof to her chin, thinking.

“Ah jus volunteered us fer a job,” Applejack muttered. “Finding a scarf. An orange and brown scarf. Probably somewhere in the leaves near where she crashed.”

Big Mac looked down at his sister still deep in thought.

“Horseapples!” she cursed.

Big Mac stopped pulling the cart when they arrived.

“It was somewhere around here,” he intoned.

“Whelp, lets git lookin!”

Applejack had explained on the walk what had happened, or near as what she could tell had happened. Big Mac had seen Ditzy’s house, and could guess at how much Dinky’s gift had meant to Ditzy. He’d seen first hand how little they had, and understood at once what Dinky had given up. He thought back to his foalhood, and what he would spend his allowance on. Candies, pies, cakes. A new comic book. Even when things weren’t going well on the farm, he’d never thought to give up his allowance to help buy a new plow, or a tin of paint for the barn, or anything.

Of course Ditzy would be distraught that she had lost something so precious. They spent the late afternoon combing the ground, but to no avail.

“Don’t stay out too late, Big Mac.”

Applejack sighed, then went on ahead.

He should have long since given up hope finding it, but stubbornly he pressed on. Celestia’s sun was beginning to move below the horizon, and soon Luna’s moon would rise. The air was starting to get a slight chill to it.

He kept looking. He worked the ground like he’d worked the fields. Slowly up the field, then slowly back. Tracing the ground, moving carefully through the leaves. Channels of bare soil could be seen through the leaves now. He’d traced the same large area between the trees multiple times now. But still, he’d not given up.

He continued looking, even as his breath hung misty in the air. The last rays of sunlight had disappeared, the autumn colours lost to the monochromatic hues of night.

He finally gave up when Applejack came back. She put a blanket over his back and ordered him to come home.

“Why can’t Ah find it, AJ?” Big Mac asked. “Good things are supposed to happen to good ponies.”

Applejack put a hoof on the back of his neck. “Ah dunno, Mac, Ah really don’t know.”

“They care so much for each other,” he huffed. “It’s just not fair.”

Applejack pulled her brother into a big hug. She felt him go limp against her. She pushed him back and looked him in the eyes. They were red. They held the same sadness she’d seen in Ditzy’s only hours earlier.

“Now, what’s got you so tied up in this?” Applejack asked, worry for her brother spreading.

“Did we show our parents how much they meant to us,” he asked, “when–when they were still around?”

Applejack looked up to the sky.

“Were we th’ perfect foals? Nah, Ah don’t think so,” she answered, honestly. “But we loved ‘em, and they loved us. Ah’m sure they still do, wherever they are.”

“Ah just–Ah just wanted to, find it for them,” he sighed. “That loyalty, to each other. They should have it better, AJ. They don’t got much, but they are still so good to each other.”

“Let’s go home, Big Mac. Ah’ll get the cart for yah.”

Chapter 6

The week went by slowly for Ditzy. She was happy she got to spend more time with Dinky, and Cheerilee had visited a few times throughout the week to see how they were doing. Ditzy didn’t want to admit it, but she was starting to worry. They’d run out of bits for the week, and without being able to work, they’d had to dip into the savings Ditzy had put aside for Dinky’s schoolbooks.

The list had been delivered mid week, and Ditzy’s heart sank as she saw the number of books needed. It had been easier on the wallet before Dinky had been put ahead two grades. But she could not begrudge her daughter for that achievement.

Ditzy would just have to find another way to make more bits.

She had asked to do some light work, perhaps sorting or something, at the Ponyville Post Office, but mail had slowed down, and Mr. Zippy was already filling in at the post office while Post Haste was making up the rounds. Piggin Carrier, her boss, was very adamant that she should rest up for the week and come back when she was fully healed.

“I need my top mailmare at her best when she comes back, okay?”

Her boss’s flattering words rang hollow in her own head, as she had to dip continually into her meagre savings. Worse still was when her landlord, Greedy Gus, had come around for the rent early. She was paid up, but he was going away for a week and a bit, and demanded she pay in advance.

Ditzy was glad when the three fillies came to play with Dinky.

The drawer now near emptied of bits caused her heart to sink. She’d been putting on a brave face all week. Ditzy couldn’t let her daughter see the despair in her eyes. It was a mother’s job to shield her child from the horrors of reality. Although she knew Dinky was acutely aware of how little they had, it was her job as a mother to at least give her daughter some joy. So she put on a smile all week for Dinky, trying to hide their rapidly deteriorating finances.

Today she would visit the hospital; hopefully her wing would be better (it certainly hurt less), and she could return to work. If she could pick up some extra shifts, she could reverse their fortunes.

She would also have to visit the bookstore today. Maybe she could work something out with Written Script. He’d always been fond of Dinky, as Dinky would spend almost any pocket money she could spare in his shop. She packed her saddlebag with one last bag, as there was one more thing she wanted to do today.

She steeled her resolve, and made her way to the hospital.

After a thorough check over her wing, the doctor was happy that her wing was showing strong signs of healing. He still cautioned her against flying, but at least she could return to work. She made a quick check at reception, a fleeting hope that her scarf might have turned up, but the receptionist had not seen it.

Making her way through town, she noticed a familiar pony exiting the bookstore and smiled.

“Ditzy!” Rarity cantered over. “I haven’t seen you since our luncheon last week. How have you been, my dear?”

“Sorry,” Ditzy lowered her head, “I didn’t mean to run out.”

“Oh nonsense,” Rarity pishposhed. “No need to apologise! Applejack explained to me what happened.”

Rarity lowered her voice, asking trepidatiously, “Did you, ummm, manage to find it?”

The lowering of Ditzy’s head even further to the ground was all the answer Rarity needed.

“Oh, dear.” Rarity decided to change the subject. “So, I take it you are here for Dinky’s schoolbooks?”

Ditzy nodded quietly.

“Well, when you are done, please come to my boutique. I have tea and cakes, and Fluttershy hasn’t been able to make it this week. Shall I wait here?”

Ditzy smiled, nodding. It would be nice to have tea and cake. With, with a friend. A friend? The thought still seemed alien to her.

Ditzy walked into the bookstore. She could immediately smell the scent of books. Old books, new books. They always had that book smell. Dinky loved that smell; though Ditzy prefered the smell of fresh muffins.

“Ms. Doo, a pleasure as always,” Written Script welcomed her, as he finished magically shelving a few books.

“Hi, Mr. Script,” Ditzy replied, a little sheepishly.

“I assume you are here for Dinky’s school books then?”

Ditzy nodded her reply.

He trotted behind the counter, and pulled out a large package wrapped in brown paper tied with string.

“I’ve taken the liberty of collecting a few of last years schoolbooks from some friends. Bell Perin’s young one graduated last year, and her Equestrian history books are still in good condition. And Ginger Gold graduated last year too, and her mother sold a lot of her books to me.”

“You’ll still need a new dictionary, as someone felt last year that the word superultraextremeawesomazing,” he breathed a sharp sigh, “should be added to the common Equestrian vernacular.”

A quick calculation told her, even with the savings, she could not afford all the books she needed to get Dinky. She stifled a whimper.

“Is, is everything alright Ms. Doo?”

Useless.

“Ditzy?”

USELESS!

“Dear, you’re shaking.”

A voice screamed in her head.

YOU ARE THE WORST MOTHER IN THE WORLD!

WHAT KIND OF PARENT CAN’T PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN CHILD?

“I tried,” Ditzy whimpered. “I really did.”

YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE A MOTHER.

“I–”

YOU DON’T DESERVE HER AS A DAUGHTER.

Pain. Dizziness.

YOU DESERVE TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

Her breath was quickening, the world around her closed in.

THEY WERE RIGHT! YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HER AWAY!

“no–”

SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU!

Barely audible, she whispered, “I just don’t know what went wrong.”

YOU WENT WRONG!

“I don’t know how to fix it–”

THAT IS WHY YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE LOVED!

“please-”

YOU SHOULD JUST DISAPPEAR!

“Sweetie,” a gentle voice prodded while a hoof stroked her mane. “Sweetie, it’s Rarity. What’s happening, are you okay?”

Ditzy opened her eyes. Above her was a very distraught Written Script, and sitting next to her was the purple maned unicorn stroking Ditzy’s mane. Her breath was still coming in short, sharp bursts. She tried to slow it down, but panic rose up in her chest again.

Ashamed, Ditzy tried to get to her hooves. Why was she on the floor? Oh, she’d stumbled in the bookshop. That was right. She concentrated, but she couldn’t focus. Her eye was playing up again.

“Here, please, bring her to this chair.”

Written Script?

“Okay sweetie, lets get you up.”

Rarity?

“Lean on me if you have to. Lets get you comfortable. Written, could you be a dear and make some tea. You do have tea, yes?”

“Tea? Tea! Yes – yes I have tea! I’ll go make some tea.”

“Now, sit down here.” Rarity moved Ditzy to the seat, Ditzy still looking around a little bewildered. “I want you to do something for me, okay?”

Ditzy nodded. Her breath was still coming in ragged.

“Now, you need to count to four as you breathe in,” Rarity told Ditzy, gently patting her hoof. “Then hold the breath and count to two. Then when you breathe out, count to six.”

“I’ll try,” Ditzy gasped, still struggling to control her breathing. In, one, two, three, four. Hold.

Tightness rose in her chest again, and the world swam. She started to breathe shallow and quickly again.

“I know it’s hard, but please, try for me. Slow your breath. In for four, hold for two, out for six. Look, I will do it with you.”

“In… two… three… four,” Rarity counted, then held her breath. Ditzy mimicked, following Rarity’s instruction. “And out… two… three… four… five… six.”

“And again,” Rarity ordered her, giving the same instructions. They repeated the process until Written Script returned with the tea.

“Here, Miss Rarity,” Written Script extended the cup and saucer towards Rarity.

“It’s not for me.” Rarity smiled, and pushed the cup towards Ditzy. “Now, drink up. I’ll just be over here with Written Script. Once you’re done, lets go back to the Boutique. Like we planned, hmm?”

Rarity tried to piece together in her mind what had happened. Ditzy had seemed perfectly fine before she came into the bookstore.

What did Rarity know about the grey mare? Not a lot. She was a few years older than Rarity. She’d come to Ponyville when Rarity was still in school. She had a young foal with her, but Rarity could not remember a colt or stallion with her. Dinky was barely a newborn when Ditzy had moved to Ponyville.

Who did she spend time with? Rarity couldn’t remember seeing her out often. No, the only time she could really recall seeing her was when she would cheerily deliver her mail. Was she alone? Just her and Dinky?

“Is she okay?” Written Script asked nervously, interrupting Rarity’s train of thought. “What happened to her?”

“Hmm? Oh- yes.” Rarity frowned. “What were the two of you doing before she started shaking?”

“Well, we were talking about Dinky’s books. She was about to pay for them,” he looked nervously back at the counter.

“Hmmm, and how much did the total come to?” Rarity asked calmly. Business. She could ‘do’ business.

“Oh, uhh.” Written Script had to pause and think back. “Forty-two bits.”

Rarity pointed to the spilled bits on the counter. “And how many bits would you say were there?”

“About twenty-five, maybe thirty?”

It dawned on him. “Oh! Oh, I see.” He looked to the floor, embarrassed. “I thought, with the second-hand books she’d have had enough.” He looked back at the slumped Ditzy sitting on the chair near his window.

“Well, forty-two bits, you said, right? And that is everything she needs?”

“Well, there was also the dictionary.”

“So, how much?” she asked patiently.

“That would be, forty-nine bits. Though I could probably do it for,” he paused to do a quick calculation,  “forty bits even. I’d be making a loss, but if it is to help Dinky.”

“Forty-nine bits? Very well.” Rarity pulled out her purse, and counted forty nine bits out, exactly. Smiling sweetly, she continued, “Would you be a dear and please wrap them up?”

She started to count Ditzy’s bits back into the pouch. Twenty-three bits. Rarity frowned. That was a very small amount to expect to pay for school books. While Rarity hadn’t had to pay for Sweetie Belle’s books (if her parents could afford another cruise, they could afford seventy bits for the school books); she hadn’t thought even the most frugal shopper could get everything needed for twenty-three bits.

“I do hope they’re doing okay,” Rarity thought to herself, as she looked over at the slumped figure by the window.

Once the books were wrapped, Rarity brought them to the table, along with Ditzy’s purse.

“Here you go. Now shall we go back to the boutique for those cakes?”

Ditzy looked down at the books, and at her still relatively full bag of bits.

She shook her head. “I can’t do that,” Ditzy whimpered. “I can’t-”

“You can’t what?” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Come back and have cakes? Well, if you are busy.” She finished with a smirk.

“I can’t let you pay for the books,” Ditzy looked into Rarity’s eyes. “It’s too much!”

Rarity leaned forward, once again comfortingly patting Ditzy’s hooves.

“Sweetie, if the Element of Generosity can’t help out a friend,” she smiled, keeping Ditzy’s eye, “then what hope does Equestria have.

“Actually, don’t answer that,” she chuckled. “It happened once, and we got cotton candy chocolate rain clouds. Please, let me do this for you, as a friend.”

“But-” Ditzy interrupted, “you don’t know me. How could I be your friend?”

“Well, I recently learned a very valuable lesson: ‘A true, true friend helps a friend in need.’” Rarity smiled as she helped Ditzy up. “And I may not know you very well, but I would like to change that. I think I would like that very much. Now come, tea and cakes await.”

Rarity put the kettle on to boil, and sliced two pieces of cake. “Earl Grey alright, Ditzy?” she called from the kitchenette.

“Yes please.”

Rarity brought the two small plates with a slice of cake on each, along with a small fork.

“Tea will be ready soon,” Rarity sat down. “Feeling a little better?”

Ditzy looked down and nodded, thinking back to the embarrassing state she had just been in.

“Oh, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Rarity gave a little laugh. “I get that way before every fashion show. And some of the panic attacks our Twilight Sparkle” - Rarity stopped herself, correcting her own impropriety - “Sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle, had when she was here. Well, you remember that incident with her old doll and the entire town.”

Ditzy chuckled. “Ummm, yes. I think I ended up hoof-wrestling with Mayor Mare.”

“See! So if they can happen to me, and they can happen one of the Princesses. Well, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

A sharp whistle came from the kitchen. “And there’s the kettle. I’ll be back in a few seconds.”

Ditzy enjoyed the afternoon with Rarity. She’d never thought much of the fashionista; Ditzy had suspected she would be a bit of a snob. The pony she found in front of her was gentle, kind, and generous. A little dramatic, but essentially a very nice pony.

Several times Rarity had to get up to serve one or two ponies that came through, but each time she insisted that Ditzy remain seated, and she’d be back soon. Rarity sighed after each one, harumphing something about window shoppers.

“You’ve been looking down at those saddlebags all afternoon dear. Please tell me you still aren’t feeling guilty about those books!” Rarity asked, worried.

Ditzy lowered her face, trying to hide a blush, and vigorously shook her head. “No, it’s not that.”

A sparkle lit in those azure eyes. “Ooo, now that is an interesting reaction.” Rarity smiled with mirth. “Now I absolutely must know what is in those saddlebags.”

“Muffins,” Ditzy replied, sinking a little lower in her seat.

“Muffins?” Rarity looked at the bags, her gaze trying to pierce through them.

“Thank you muffins,” Ditzy was almost prone, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Well-” Rarity teased with a devilish grin. “I hadn’t helped you out before today. So they couldn’t be thank you muffins for me. I wonder, who could they be for?” Rarity’s grin widened.

Ditzy could not sink any lower in her chair.

“Hmm, could it be somepony with broad enough shoulders to carry somepony to the hospital? Or could it be somepony who ran around looking for some other pony’s daughter?” Rarity chuckled, noting that she could roast marshmallows on the blush across Ditzy’s face.

“Could it be somepony who made sure Dinky had a warm place to sleep, so she wouldn’t be alone,” Rarity pushed, a little more gently this time. Her grin had changed to a very soft smile.

“Just wanted to say thank you,” Ditzy muttered.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t tease,” Rarity giggled. “You certainly wouldn’t be the first mare who's fallen for Ponyville’s most popular bachelor.”

“Haven’t fallen for him,” Ditzy grumbled. “Just wanted to say thank you.”

Rarity giggled. “Of course dear. I shall say no more!”

“Besides, he wouldn’t be interested in me.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing.”

“Why wouldn’t he be interested in you?” Rarity frowned.

“No pony is interested in someone with a foal already.”

“What?” Rarity had to place her teacup down, she’d almost spilled it at that remark. “What are you talking about?”

Ditzy focused intently on her tea. “Just that. No pony is interested in somepony who already has a foal.”

“Well,” Rarity paused. “Not to get your hopes up, but I think Big MacIntosh understands family. He has always been very dedicated to that family. He gave up the chance for a higher education to help with the farm when his parents- well.

“I’m not saying it’s a definite thing, but I think you should take him those muffins. Or,” a smile crossed her face as the idea came to her mind, “why not bake some fresh ones tomorrow, and take them out to him. Perhaps a vacuum flask or two of soup? If I recall, the family have lunch about eleven. Yes! Tomato soup on an autumn afternoon. Savory muffins too. Hmm.”

Ditzy stared wide eyed at the white unicorn before her.

“Yes? Yes I think, this will work wonderfully!” Rarity got up, and walked to her closet. She trotted back with a folded blanket and picnic basket hovering in front of her.

“Tonight, you should get Dinky to help you, make the soup. Tomorrow morning, you should make the muffins, about nine in the morning. Once they are done, you should make your way with Dinky over to Sweet Apple Acres. So long as you get there before they have lunch, which if I know the Apples, it will be spot on eleven, you can invite the family to a small thank you meal from both you and Dinky.

“Will you need a few bits for the ingredients?”

Ditzy, still wide eyed, shook her head. “Ummm, I should have enough from the book money.”

“Excellent! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” Rarity squealed.

“Dinky will run off to play with Apple Bloom. Granny Smith will likely go back to her porch to sleep. Hmmm,” Rarity scratched her chin. “Applejack is a hard one. She’ll not likely get the hint. She’s not exactly a romantic, and subtlety is not her forté.” Rarity frowned. “I am not quite sure what to do about Applejack.”

“I don’t like it,” she let out a deep sigh, “but perhaps we will have to leave that up to fate.”

Ditzy stared in awe at the Marechiavelli of romance that stood before her. Celestia save us, should Rarity put that intellect to nefarious use.

Chapter 7

Ditzy and Dinky got up early the next morning. Dinky was excited at the proposition; both as thanks to the Apples, and the possibility of playing with her new friend. They’d made the soup fresh the night before, and reheated it over the hearth as the muffins came out of the oven. Dinky happily stacked the muffins one by one, in her meticulously ordered manner, into the basket. Ditzy poured the soup, filling two large vacuum flasks, then packed them in next to the muffins in the basket.

Dinky carefully tucked the folded blanket into the sides over the food.

It was the second to last day of Dinky’s holiday. After tomorrow, Dinky would be going back to school. Ditzy would miss her dearly, but she needed to get back to work, and it gave her some peace knowing Dinky would be at school with her new friends, not alone.

They walked together, Dinky carrying the basket with her magic for five minutes, then Ditzy would take over carrying it in her teeth for fifteen. They were at the outskirts of Ponyville when Dinky stopped asking for the basket. Ditzy nuzzled the back of her daughter’s neck.

“Just keep practicing, and soon your magic will be able to carry things like this the whole way!”

Dinky beamed at the praise from her mother.

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Dinky bounded ahead, calling for Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom burst through the door, a smile on her face.

“Dinky! What’re you doin’ here?” The foals bounced around each other. “Ah didn’t think I’d get to see ya again until school!”

“Momma and I came here.” Dinky bounced, a sight Ditzy had not seen in many years. “We brought lunch for your family.”

Ditzy had finally caught up to the two fillies, and Apple Bloom eyed the basket. “Ooooooooo! What’cha got there?”

“It’s a thank you lunch, for you, and Applejack, and Granny Smith, and Big Mac,” Dinky listed off the members of the Apple family.

Ditzy placed the basket on the ground, she could talk with a clipboard between her teeth, but the basket was a bit too unwieldy. “We wanted to say thank you for all your help lately.”

“Oh wow!” Apple Bloom ran back to the door, “Granny! Mah friends have brought a picnic lunch for us! Can we eat outside?”

Ditzy was certain she heard a ‘buh-wuh?’ from inside as she followed Apple Bloom to the door.

“Ummm, hello, excuse me?” Ditzy called in. “I’ve— sorry, we’ve brought some lunch to say thank you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Who’s there?” The frail, aged pony with a faded green coat came to the door. “Oh, it’s Dimpy.”

“Hi Granny Smith,” Dinky laughed. “This is my momma.”

“Ditzy,” Ditzy held her hoof forward to shake.

Granny Smith frowned as she shook the hoof. “I might be a littl’ addled in me old age, but I ain’t ditzy,” she muttered.

Ditzy could feel her ears burning with heat.

“Umm, no. Ditzy Doo,” she coughed. “Ditzy Doo is my name.”

“Hmm,” the creases on Granny’s forehead becoming very pronounced. Then her face lightened. “Oh fiddle-faddle! I’ve dunnit ag’in! Now, why were yah here again?”

“Ummm, lunch,” Ditzy was a little confused.

“Oh, well-” Granny scratched the back of her head, “Haven’t started makin it yet, so should be able to make summ'it for two more.” She looked around, to confirm it was only two extra guests.

Dinky and Apple Bloom were in fits of laughter, watching the exchange between the befuddled mares.

Ditzy lifted up the basket in front of Granny Smiths eyes.

“I brouf fom foob to sfare.” She knew it would be hard to understand, but hoped she’d gotten the meaning across.

“Apple Bloom,” Dinky managed to get out, after the fits of laughter had subsided, “We need some bowls, or mugs, if you guys have any.”

“This way!” Apple Bloom giggled, still struggling to contain her laughter. “Whah don’t yah sit down on the porch Granny? We’ll get lunch sorted.”

The two ran inside, laughter echoing out the door.

They’d set the blanket on the soft ground partially beneath the shade of a tree. Apple Bloom looked over the muffins with a hungry expression. Granny Smith had sat on the edge of the blanket, under the shade. Ditzy laid on her side, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her back and wings. She enjoyed the feeling of the breeze as it ruffled her feathers.

Two figures emerged from the eastern fields. Apple Bloom bounced on her rear legs, waving her forehooves in the air. “Big Mac! Applejack! Over here, quick!”

The two figures approached, quickening their pace at Apple Bloom’s request. They slowed down as they approached and saw the blanket laid out, and the four ponies sitting relaxed. Well, three ponies sitting relaxed, and one bouncing near clear out of her own coat.

“What in tarnation’s the big rush, Bloom?” the orange mare frowned.

“Muffins!” Apple Bloom squealed with so much glee that Dinky had to look up to her mother to make sure it wasn’t her that had exclaimed with such enthusiasm. Ditzy chuckled, seeing her daughters look.

“Dinky and I wanted to say, ummm, thank you,” Ditzy explained, though she could feel her ears starting to burn, so looked down at the blanket. “You know, thank you, for everything.”

Apple Bloom rocked, clearly anxious to get to the baked treats.

Big Mac and Applejack took their places at the picnic blanket. Ditzy hadn’t failed to notice Big Mac had taken his place next to her. She’d hoped that the heat she could feel in her cheeks was obvious only to her.

Ditzy coughed.

“So, who would like some soup?” she asked, looking to everypony other than the stallion beside her. “Or if you’d just like muffins, go for it.” She winked to Apple Bloom.

Dinky helped by holding the mugs with her magic, and Ditzy poured the contents of the vacuum flasks into cups, thankful there was still a lot of heat. Dinky hovered each one to each grateful recipient.

“I hope the muffins are good,” Ditzy picked one up gently, balancing it on one hoof. “They're a new recipe, cheese and parsley. We thought they might go nice with the tomato soup.”

Dinky hovered one of the muffins towards Apple Bloom and brought one to herself. She pinched a small bit off, and dipped it in the soup. Carefully hovering it to her mouth, she popped the soup drenched muffin into her mouth.

“Oh wow! Ah can do that too!” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she broke off a piece of muffin, and dropped it with a plop into the soup. What followed was a humorous twenty seconds of Apple Bloom trying to get the muffin piece out of the soup. First she tried her hoof, then her tongue, then her whole snout was in the mug. Dinky giggled, lifted the piece out and held it for Apple Bloom to take.

The other members of the Apple family laughed.

“Apple Bloom, what you need to do is take a small bite of the muffin,” Ditzy instructed. “Then take a small sip of the soup. That’s how us pegasi and earth ponies have to do it.”

Ditzy smiled at Apple Bloom, then demonstrated.

They enjoyed the meal in relative silence. Ditzy had asked how the farm was going, and Applejack had happily talked away about the different vegetables they’d grow and store for the winter. Ditzy tried to follow, but she was admittedly a mailmare, not a farmer. Added to that, there was somepony whose stoic silence next to her that kept her mind distracted.

He’d kept quiet for most of the meal; Ditzy nervously asked if the food was okay. She’d been answered with an “Eeyup”, and her heart eased a little when she looked up and saw him smiling, inhaling the smell of the soup, and drinking delicately from the mug.

The foals finished first, and as predicted, had asked if they could go and play. Dinky excused herself as she stood on all fours, following the excited Apple Bloom.

“Dinky sure is a sweetie,’ Applejack giggled. “Maybe Ah’ll be right, and those manners will rub off.”

They continued to slowly snack on the food, most of the muffins and soup gone by this time. Soft snores interrupted the serenity. The three ponies turned to see Granny Smith had fallen asleep on the blanket.

Ditzy was amazed by Rarity’s amazing foresight.

“Whelp, we better get back to work, hey Big Mac?” Closing her eyes, Applejack sighed, “Aww hay, Ah could jes lay’n this sun all day.”

Big Mac shook his head. “Nope. Too much to do.”

“Well, I better get this cleaned up,” Ditzy smiled.

“Ah’ll help!” Applejack got up. “Big Mac, can you help Granny Smith back up to the porch.”

“Eeyup”

Several miles away, a white unicorn with a purple mane standing in the attic of her boutique let out the most unladylike scream of frustration. She stomped down the stairs, leaving the recently requisitioned royal astronomy telescope broken at that window, wondering how much she’d owe Twilight to replace that.

Chapter 8

Ditzy was happy to be back on her feet. Her mailbag slung over her flank, the familiar blue vest and cap on. Pen in her left pocket. It was Dinky’s first day at school, and Ditzy’s heart skipped with delight when three fillies came running to greet Dinky when they arrived at the school house.

She’d managed to say a quick hello to Cheerilee, but she had work to do. Rounds to make. Letters to deliver.

First off, complaints to Mayor Mare. She grimaced as Ditzy handed over the stack of letters.

“Don shoof da meffenger,” she mumbled with a smile, as she held out the clipboard for Mayor Mare to sign. The Mayor returned a weak smile.

Next, she had to deliver a small pink envelope with a little heart on it, addressed to Golden Harvest, from Written Script. Delivery address and return address identical. Ditzy giggled at the cute couple.

After that was a large brown envelope addressed ‘To The Proprietor, Carousel Boutique, Ponyville’.

Rarity had been very happy to receive her delivery (Duchess silk swatches, the latest colours from Canterlot), and was positively scandalized when Ditzy recounted the events of the trip to the farm. Ditzy left with a promise for more tea and cake.

Then there were the party invitations. Lots of party invitations. Ditzy wondered what the Ponyville Postal Service would do without the custom of a certain pink party pony. She smiled, knowing back at the postal office, she had one such invitation addressed to her, sitting in her locker.

There was a magazine addressed to one Gizmo: “Hey Skinny, Yer ribs are showing! Let Iron Will make you a STALLION!”

Twenty eight letters addressed to a certain pink party pony, care of Sugarcube Corner. All labeled RSVP.

But nothing to Sweet Apple Acres.

She delivered the mail, and collected the outgoing letters.

Ditzy had habitually left Sugarcube Corner for last, the mail had a tendency to get covered with cake batter when in the vicinity of Pinkie. Ditzy pushed through the swinging doors into the bakery.

A very, very, very long inhale of air told the mailpony that Pinkie was indeed there.

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh–” Pinkie Pie jumped around Ditzy.

Ditzy felt each leg rise and fall, as Pinkie looked under her for whatever she was expecting.

“ohmygoshohmygoshohmy— where is it?” Pinkie asked, a frown forming. At some point, Pinkie seemed to have taken and worn Ditzy’s hat.

Ditzy sighed, and opened her saddlebags, and handed a large wad of RSVP’s. Then she took her hat back.

“It was supposed to come today!” Pinkie pouted.

“Ummm,” Ditzy asked cautiously, “what were you expecting?”

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!”– Pinkie gasped –“I ordered a new confetti cannon! 68 pounder…”

“That-” Ditzy looked nervously around for the Cakes. Or Anypony. “That might have to be collected from the Post Office direct.”

“I mean, just think about it, with that I could welcome new ponies before they even step into the town I could have it in my room and boooooooooom welcome party Pinkie style though I’d have to make sure I didn’t load it with cake batter like the time I did to Cranky oh but maybe I could use it to deliver creamy cakes across town though Mr Cake wasn’t impressed with my tangerine tartelette trebuchette-”

Ditzy mentally recoiled. Who under Celestia’s sun would sell a cannon. To Pinkie Pie? The skies around Ponyville just became a lot more dangerous. Images of poor pegasi penetrated with festively flashy flak filled her mind. Thank Celestia she couldn’t fly for the next few weeks.

“–and so I said, ‘68 Pound Confetti Balls are dangerous? Don’t be silly!’”

Ditzy allowed her brain to catch up. She was not sure what was scarier, Pinkie with a naval grade cannon, or her complete lack of her typical non-sequitur.

“I, ummm, have to keep going with my round,” Ditzy said, feeling very, very nervous. “It was good seeing you, Pinkie.”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie grinned. “♩See you at the post office!♪”

Ditzy returned to the post office. Two more hours of sorting and she could go and pick Dinky up from school. As she entered the small building, she was startled by a pop in her right ear. She instinctively dove for the ground. Around her, her co-workers gasped and giggled, as confetti rained down over her head.

Post Haste held a hoof down, and helped her up. “Why so jumpy?” he asked with a cheerful smile.

“Pinkie.”

“Oh, so you’ve already had a welcome back party?” her boss, Carrier laughed.

Still stunned, Ditzy responded. “She was waiting on a new delivery.”

Less laughter.

“A cannon.”

The laughter ceased.

“A naval cannon.”

Six ponies shot a hoof to their nose, all calling out “Not it!”

“Hah, Ditzy was too slow. Looks like it’s hers!” Zippy laughed from the back.

“And she’s still recovering. Haste, that delivery is on you,” Carrier barked. Post Haste groaned, and the laughter started again.

“Now, about your welcome back party.”

While the ‘party’ was very low key affair, Ditzy felt very welcome. Small sandwiches, muffins (the office knew her penchant for the baked goods), as well as tea, coffee, and a bottle of soda. After a short break, everyone went back to their work. Ditzy took the mail she’d collected to the sorting desk, and helped the two sorters. She sorted and stamped the letters due to leave Ponyville, and when they were done, she took the outgoing sack down to Doc Delivery.

“Hey Doc,” Ditzy smiled, dragging  the sack into the loading bay. “Here’s today’s outgoing.”

“Hey Ditz, glad to see you back!” Doc wrapped an arm around her neck. “Sorry I couldn’t come to the party. You wouldn’t believe what was just dragged in by twelve mail pegasi-”

Ditzy was glad to leave the excitement of the mail office.  Most of the office workers were swinging between paroxysms of disbelieving laughter, to curling up on the ground and gently rocking.

So few ponies realize the logistics of Pinkie Pie’s randomness.

Chapter 9

Ditzy made her way to the schoolhouse. She was nearly bouncing when she got to the gate. It took all her willpower to stay on her hooves and not take flight. Her mood faltered as she saw her daughter standing with Cheerilee. Dinky was looking down, very embarrassed. No, not embarrased. Angry!

Cheerilee had a weary smile on her face.

Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked back as they passed Ditzy. Ditzy overheard snippets of their conversation.

“‘s not fair!” Apple Bloom whined.

“She deserved worse!” Scootaloo muttered.

Ditzy’s heart sank. She felt a twitch on her face, and she struggled to keep her eyes focused. She took a deep breath, and cantered up to Cheerilee.

“Hey Muffin,” she nuzzled her daughter. “Is everything okay?”

Cheerilee answered for her. “Dinky had a little fight today. Are you headed home now?”

Ditzy nodded.

“May I join you?” Cheerilee asked.

“Ummm, sure.” Ditzy tried to sound friendly, but she doubted she did. Cheerilee was frowning and breathing heavily. It made her worry all the more.

Things had been going so well for her daughter. What went wrong?

They did not have far to go, within five minutes they were at Ditzy’s door. Ditzy lead the way, unlocked the door, but once again had trouble where the door stuck. She tried to push against it, but with her wing still healing, she struggled until Dinky came to help.

As they walked through the door, Ditzy noticed Cheerilee frowning at the door.

“Landlord won’t fix it,” Ditzy muttered, hanging her head in embarrassment. She turned to her daughter. “Dinky, why don’t you go play outside for a little bit?”

Ditzy wandered into the kitchen. She should at least be hospitable.

“Tea?”

Behind her, Cheerilee broke into laughter.

Ditzy had finished making tea, and sat down with Cheerilee. Cheerilee had calmed down by this time, and had proceeded to explain what had happened.

It was just after the children came back from lunchtime, Cheerilee had explained. She’d told the children to take out the mathematics books as she was writing some equations on the blackboard. She could hear a few of the girls arguing, so she had turned around and told them to settle down, then went back to writing on the blackboard.

“It takes enough to write on a blackboard without getting chalk in your mouth.” Cheerilee had sighed.

Her writing was interrupted by a sudden shout.

“When I turned back around, Diamond Tiara was screaming, sopping wet. Hovering above her was my emptied glass.”

Cheerilee giggled.

“She was outraged,” Cheerilee shook her head.

“So Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle-”

“Were busy holding Scootaloo back,” Cheerilee laughed again. “Had they not, I think Diamond Tiara would have ended up a lot worse than just wet.”

Ditzy let out a breath she wasn’t aware she was holding.

“What happened?”

Cheerilee had to talk to the girls separately to get the full story. Evidently, Diamond Tiara had been laughing with Silver Spoon, they’d been teasing Dinky about the tattered condition of her books. Cheerilee had been told that the breaking point was when Diamond Tiara had told Dinky the only thing worse than being a blank flank was being a poor blank flank.

Ditzy held back tears. She was supposed to shield her daughter from all this.

“When Filthy Rich came to pick Diamond Tiara up, he was furious,” Cheerilee continued. “I had to explain what had happened, and I told him I would speak to you. So, here I am. Speaking.”

“Is Dinky going to be suspended,” Dinky asked, trying to hide the terror in her voice.

“No,” Cheerilee shook her head, “she’s already been disciplined. I just wanted you to know what had happened. Though I know you will talk to her.”

Cheerilee looked around.

“Now that that business is done with, I was wondering what you were doing Friday night?”

“Ummm, I don’t think I am doing anything.”

“Well, normally it would be improper of me to ask one of the parents of my students, but,” she hesitated, “Big Mac and I are meeting an old friend at The Parched Saddle. I thought if you could find a sitter, you might like to join us?”

“I wouldn’t be intruding?”

“No, of course not. We’d love for you to come along. We’ll be heading there at six. Oh, I do hope you can make it.” Cheerilee beamed, holding out her hooves. “Anyway, I must be going. Thank you for the tea.”

As Cheerilee left, Ditzy called Dinky inside. Dinky slunk through the doorway, her anger obviously dissipated.

“I’m sorry, momma.”

Ditzy looked down, and saw her daughter was truly sorry.

“What are you sorry for?”

“I got you in trouble with Miss Cheerilee.”

“You didn’t get me in trouble.” Ditzy made her way to their bed. “Come up here, my little muffin.”

Dinky climbed onto the bed, and nestled herself between her mother’s forearms. Ditzy lowered her head to her daughter, her pale gold mane obscuring everything but Dinky’s eyes. She planted a small kiss on Dinky’s forehead.

“Tell me what happened today.”

Dinky repeated most of what Cheerilee had just told her. The hurt in Dinky’s voice returned as she repeated the taunts from Diamond Tiara.

“What do we do when somepony says something mean to us?” Ditzy asked.

“We talk about it with somepony,” Dinky answered softly.

“Very good,” Ditzy smiled. “We talk about how it hurts our feelings. You could talk about it with your teacher, Miss Cheerilee. You could talk about it with your friends. You have three young fillies who care for you very much.”

Dinky sniffled.

“And you can always come talk about it with your momma,” Ditzy drew her daughter into a warm embrace. “You can always talk with me; you will always be my little muffin.

“Now, did you want to do your homework while I make dinner?”

“Okay momma,” Dinky got down off the bed. Looking back, she said, “I am sorry I tipped the water on Diamond Tiara.”

Chapter 10

Mail had been particularly light on Friday, so Ditzy found herself finishing early. She told her friend, Rarity, earlier on in the week about the invite from Cheerilee. To say it seemed somepony had lit a fire under Rarity’s flank would be an understatement. She’d insisted, nay, demanded, Ditzy come over once she’d finished work, bringing an overnight bag for Dinky. She insisted that Dinky and Sweetie Belle would be fine walking to the boutique after school. And Sweetie Belle had been excited about the sleep over.

After a light meal, Rarity got to work.

“Now, the Parched Saddle is not my taste in nightlife, a little too gauche for my tastes,” Rarity had buzzed excitedly as she moved about the parlor, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t make you the best looking mare in the bar!”

Rarity ordered Ditzy upstairs, having already run a relaxing bath in preparation. Ditzy dipped a cautious hoof in the bath water finding it to be lovely and warm. As she lowered herself in, she could smell the strong scent of lavender, and noticed small buds of lavender flower floating in the tub.

She wondered less whether Rarity was helping her get ready, and more along the lines of whether or not she was preparing pony soup.

Rarity called up the stairs. “There is a luffa on the washstand next to you. Give yourself a good scrub with that, it will get all the excess fur from your coat.”

Ditzy looked around. Rarity had a lot of things on her washstand. She was not sure which thing would be a luffa. She spied a delicate porcelain handled brush, and wondered if that was what Rarity had talked about. It didn’t look like it belonged in a bath.

“Umm, Rarity?” Ditzy called out.

“Yes dear?”

“What’s a loofer?”

“Oh, sorry,” Rarity called back. “Small cream coloured sponge, about the size of your hoof.”

Ditzy reached for the luffa, glad she had asked before getting the delicate brush wet. As she reached out to grab the small sponge, she lost her footing and tumbled out of the bath.

“Is everything alright up there?”

Ditzy muttered under her breath as she tried to blow her now sopping wet fringe out of her eyes. “Sorry, I slipped,” she called back embarrassed.

She climbed back into the tub thankful she was unhurt, aside from her pride. She started with scrubbing her forearms. It was strange, scratchy. As she continued, she noticed a lot of loose fur now floating in the tub. Had she been keeping so little care of her coat?

As she was finishing, Rarity trotted in.

“Done, dear?” she asked, hovering two fluffy white towels over as Ditzy climbed out of the tub. Ditzy wrapped the larger towel around her body, while Rarity wrapped her gold mane in the other. “Now, dry yourself off thoroughly, then join me again down stairs.”

Rarity skipped out of the bathroom, humming a jaunty tune.

Downstairs, Ditzy found Rarity going through a pile of cloaks and saddles.

“No. No. Not that one,” Rarity muttered as Ditzy joined her. “No, no, no, no!

“Ah! This one.”

Before Ditzy was aware of what was happening, Rarity had placed a cloak over her back, and was fastening it around Ditzy’s neck.

“Oh yes! That pale sapphire looks wonderful on you. And the silver detailing!” Rarity exclaimed, “Why, it’s as if it was destined for you when I made it all those years ago!”

Rarity walked around, inspecting her friend. “Hmmm, yes. It frames your hips nicely, and it’s very slimming; not that you need that dear. You must tell me your secret.”

“Poverty,” Ditzy blushed.

“Oh, umm, yes. Well. Let me see-” Rarity hovered over a small, silver embossed case and opened it. From it floated multiple necklaces and pendants. “I think we want subtle tonight. You should look magnificent, but not desperate.”

A small silver chain and pendant, set with a sapphire surrounded by small diamonds hovered in front of her throat.

“Yes, this one is perfect,” Rarity muttered, “And I am certain I have matching set of earrings.

“This is all coming together perfectly.”

Ditzy saw herself in one of the mirrors, and started to tremble. Rarity stopped, and looked up.

“It’s too much,” Ditzy sniffled. “I don’t deserve to look so nice.”

Rarity pulled her into a tight hug.

“Nonsense, dear. Nothing is too much when it comes to love.” Rarity smiled. “You do deserve to look this nice, and you deserve to be happy. If I can help you with that, even for just this one night- well.”

Ditzy pulled into the hug even harder. “Thank you, Rarity.”

“Don’t mention it, dear. Now! Off with that all,” Rarity whipped back into action. “We need to do your makeup and hair!”

Rarity gently brushed Ditzy’s mane with the delicate porcelain brush. Using her crimping iron, Rarity worked in a gentle waviness, and pinned Ditzy’s fringe back with small jeweled barrette. Then she applied a very subtle, light-grey sapphire eyeshadow.

“Now, we just need to curl your eyelashes and apply a little mascara. Close your eye and hold still.” Rarity hovered the eye curler over and curled the eyelashes. “Now, other side.”

Once the curling was done, Rarity applied the mascara. “Oh, those lashes frame your golden eyes wonderfully.”

Ditzy closed her eyes and looked away.

“My eyes look stupid.”

“They don’t look stupid.”

“They do! I look stupid. Everyone says I do,” Ditzy sniffled again.

“Ut-tut-tut!” Rarity snapped. “No more waterworks from you tonight my dear! You’ll ruin your mascara.”

“Sorry,” Ditzy replied, eyes still closed.

She felt a hoof on her chin. In a gentle tone, Rarity spoke.

“You do not look stupid. You look beautiful. Your eyes look beautiful. Don’t let those naysayers get you down. You are a beautiful mare, and those foals are worse off for not seeing it. Beauty is my business, and if I say you’re beautiful, who would dare argue with me?

“Now, open your eyes, and show me your beautiful, smiling face.”

Ditzy allowed herself to smile.

“Good,” Rarity said. “Now, open those beautiful eyes.”

Ditzy opened her eyes, and saw the smiling face of her friend. Her best friend.

“There! Now lets go get you dressed again and ready for your night.”

“You’d make such a wonderful mother, Rarity,” Ditzy smiled. “You’re so patient and gentle.”

“Oh heavens no!” Rarity let out in mock surprise. “I have my hooves full enough with Sweetie Belle! Not to mention Opal.”

They went back downstairs giggling.

After gasps and squeals from Dinky and Sweetie Belle, Ditzy stepped out into the evening. Rarity sent her off with a wink. She thought it a little foalish, but her heart was alight with joy at the lovely clothes she was wearing. Rarity had told her she was beautiful, and now, she felt she could believe that just a little, even if it was just for the night.

Chapter 11

Ditzy had agreed to meet Cheerilee at the café; from there they would head to The Parched Saddle and meet the boys. She felt a little over dressed sitting in the café, but the air was cool, and she enjoyed a small coffee. She wasn’t used to staying up late, and Rarity had told her a little caffeine would help.

Cheerilee was not long. She too wore a small evening cloak, along with a gold necklace and matching earrings. She was looking around the café, when Ditzy waved her over.

“Oh, my,” Cheerilee stammered, “Ditzy, you look stunning! Wow!”

Cheerilee laughed nervously, “I mean, not that you don’t normally look good, but– I’ll just be quiet now.”

“Thanks,” Ditzy giggled, blushing. “You look very nice too. I’m not too dressed up, am I?”

Cheerilee stood there, slack jawed.

“N-no,” Cheerilee stammered. “You look amazing.

“I said that already, didn’t I?” Cheerilee chuckled. “Shall we get going, before I embarrass myself any further?”

Their entrance to The Parched Saddle had the very effect Rarity had intended. Ditzy blanched under the combined gaze of so many of the pubs patronage. Somepony let out a wolf-whistle. After a few seconds, everypony turned back to their conversations. Stallions back to their dates. Mares glowering at said dates. The din of the crowd returned to its normal level.

Cheerilee nudged the still shocked Ditzy. “Let’s check our coats in and see the boys.”

Two pairs of eyes remained on the girls as they approached.

“Good evening Big Mac, Caramel,” Cheerilee smiled. Cheerilee turned to Caramel. “Caramel, this is our friend Ditzy Doo. Ditzy, Caramel.”

“G’evening,” Ditzy stammered at the gawking amber stallion before her. “Hi, Big Mac.”

Cheerilee reached across the table, and with her hoof, closed Caramel’s slack-jawed mouth, as Big Mac chuckled. “Now, why don’t I ever elicit that reaction,” Cheerilee jokingly pouted. “Caramel owns Hayseed Mill, out by Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Good evening, Ms Doo,” Big Mac nodded. “You look wonderful tonight.”

“Please, call me Ditzy,” she blushed. “Ms Doo makes me feel old.”

“Well, then good evening, Ditzy,” he smiled.

“Can I get anyone drinks?” Caramel recovered. “Ditzy? Cheerilee?”

Ditzy was glad Rarity prepared her for this: Ditzy was not normally a drinker. “Could I have a small glass of Riesling?”

“Ooo, that sounds nice, I’ll have one too,” Cheerilee smiled.

“Pale Ale,” Big Mac piped up.

“As long as you’ve got the next round,” Caramel laughed. “You still owe me from last time!”

Caramel returned, skillfully balancing the tray of drinks on his back. He slid the tray onto the table they had gathered around. The two mares sipped at their glasses as the group fell into chatter. Ditzy didn’t have much to add to the conversation; she didn’t know these ponies overly well, but she appreciated that Big Mac and Cheerilee had made efforts to keep Ditzy in the conversation.

Ditzy drank slowly, she was still on her first glass by the time Cheerilee was on her third. Big Mac’s drawl was becoming more pronounced as he continued to drink, and Caramel had developed reddening cheeks and a sheepish grin on his face.

Ditzy excused herself to go and buy a second glass, but Big Mac interrupted.

“Nooooooooope,” he stammered. “S’mah treat.”

“Oh, yoooou’ll buy for her,” Caramel called out, a look of mock hurt plastered across his face as Big Mac made his way towards the bar, “but nuthin for your good buddy Caramel? Pale Ale, PALE ALE!”

“Mill’s been doin’ bett’r th’n apples,” Big Mac called back. “Buy yer own!”

Cheerilee and Ditzy laughed.

Big Mac returned with the drinks; despite his joking, he was carrying two glasses of wine, and two pale ales.

“Yer lucky,” Caramel wrapped a forearm around Big Mac’s neck, “Y’uh might be bigger’n me, but I’d hate to embarrass you infrunna these two ladies.” With that, he playfully pushed his hoof against Big Mac’s muzzle. Then slipped to the floor. The three others roared with laughter.

“Ditzy,” Cheerilee sided up close, “C’mon and finish that. Le’s go an’ dance!”

“Cheerilee, I can’t drink that fast,” Ditzy protested, laughing at her friend’s eagerness.

“You’re too slow,” Cheerilee complained. Ditzy put down her glass and sighed. Cheerilee laughed as she grabbed Ditzy by the hoof and dragged her to the dance floor. “Later boyyyys!”

Ditzy felt embarrassed on the dance floor. She certainly lacked the grace most other ponies had, but seeing the other patrons in their current state, perhaps she didn’t stick out too much. She started to loosen up, and danced with her friend. She was still far more subdued with her dancing than Cheerilee, who had evidently been getting really into the music.

One particular song really got Cheerilee going.

“Oh! Mares Just Wanna Have Fun!” Cheerilee shouted into Ditzy’s ear, bumping flanks as she danced and laughed. “I was such a Cindy Clopper fan when I was younger.”

Cheerilee bumped a little too hard, and Ditzy stumbled into a stocky light brown pegasus stallion.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” He barked down at her. “Oh, if it isn’t Derpy Hooves.”

The dark brown pegasus next to him guffawed. “How could she watch where she’s going? You’ve seen those eyes.”

The two roared with laughter.

Ditzy struggled to her feet.

YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE!

She made her way to the door.

THEY’RE RIGHT TO LAUGH AT YOU!

“Look at her run away!” the dark brown pegasus called out. “Is she drunk, or just derpy?”

EVERYPONY IS LAUGHING AT YOU!

Ditzy broke into a run, and spilled out into the night.

YOU WERE A FOAL TO EVEN COME HERE!

What do we do when somepony says something mean to us?

We run away. Crying.

Big Mac was stunned, as Cheerilee stormed up to the table, a look of both anger and hurt on her face.

“Whassup Cheery? Caramel slurred. “Where’s Ditzy?”

“We have to go after her,” Cheerilee barked. “Now!”

Big Mac sobered, looking around for the grey mare. “Where did she go?”

“She ran out the door. Now, move!” she commanded with a voice only a teacher could. Cheerilee went to the coat check, and as she’d guessed, Ditzy had left her cloak behind. She collected the cloak, and the three ponies exited into the cold night.

“Ditzy,” Cheerilee called out.

“Ditzy,” Big Mac called out.

“Ditzy Doo?” Caramel finished.

Nowhere could she be seen.

Big Mac moved to Cheerilee’s side. “What happened?”

“Those,” Cheerilee bit her lip, shaking with anger. “Those bucking rumpholes!” Cheerilee bucked her rear legs and kicked the fountain base they’d stopped at. Big Mac and Caramel looked at Cheerilee in awe. Neither had ever seen the mare so angry. Of the three, she was always the quiet, reserved one.

Adrenaline worn off, Cheerilee slumped, and rubbed her rear hooves.

“As far as smart moves go,” she groaned, “that was not one of my finer ideas.”

“Cheerilee! What happened?” Big Mac shouted, impatient with not knowing what had caused Ditzy to run.

Cheerilee explained what had happened with the two stallions, their taunts and laughter at Ditzy’s fall.

“Celestia, it was my fault!” Cheerilee whined. “I was the drunken foal who knocked her over.” She tried to stand. Cheerilee cursed under her breath as she lifted her right hoof off the ground.

“Caramel,” Big Mac turned to the other stallion. “Can you take Cheerilee home? I’ll look for Ditzy.”

Caramel nodded, and helped Cheerilee to her feet. “C’mon Cheery, let’s get you home. Big Mac’ll find her.”

Cheerilee passed Ditzy’s cloak to Big Mac, her eyes pleading. “Please, find her.”

Once they were gone, Big Mac was unsure where exactly to look. He wandered along the route to Ditzy’s home, calling out her name as he went. He ignored the few angry shouts from ponies complaining about the time. When he finally got to Ditzy’s, the door was closed and there was no light inside. He wondered to himself where she could be, but did not know where else she might have gone.

He sat down on the uneven porch, and waited.

Twenty minutes later, he saw a forlorn looking mare staggering her way up the path.

“Big Mac?” Ditzy had looked up, bleary eyed at his face. “What? Why?”

“We were worried about you,” he smiled.

He looked at the grey mare, her mane dishevelled, her cheeks stained with black streaks from her eyes. She sniffled and tried to wipe her tears, only smearing the makeup further. He held out a hoof, and helped her onto the porch. She made her way towards the door, only to trip on the loose floor boarding.

She stifled a sob as Big Mac helped her up. Big Mac helped her with the door. Ditzy remained quiet and sullen as she moved throughout the house.

Feeling the chill throughout the small cottage, Big Mac moved to the kitchen to light the fire. He watched as Ditzy wandered about the house in a daze. She moved about with an empty expression, lost in painful thought. When the fire was warm enough, Big Mac put the kettle on to boil. He pulled Ditzy to the front room, and sat her down next to him on the rug.

“I looked so stupid tonight,” she whispered. It took Big Mac a few seconds to register what she had said. He put a forearm around her shoulder, and pulled her into a warm hug.

“You were the most beautiful mare there tonight.”

Ditzy froze.

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” she sniffed.

“Nope,” he replied. “It’s true. Apples are nothin’, if not honest!” He pulled her tighter into the hug. The levee broke, and he held her as she sobbed on his shoulder.

Big Mac stoked the fire. Ditzy had fallen asleep leaning against him, so he’d helped her to the bed and tucked her in. She was shivering, so he filled the remaining water from the kettle into a hot water bottle. He’d brought it back and tucked it behind her back.

Big Mac took stock of the cottage while she dozed. He frowned as he noticed holes in the hatching on the roof. He took a close look at the door; the floor board had warped up and obviously blocked the door from opening. He continued to look around, making a mental list.

Looking past the flaws in the structure of the house, he smiled as he stared at what made this place a home. Photo frames dotted every surface around the cottage. No matter where he looked, there was a small photo of Dinky, or Ditzy and Dinky, staring back at him. Smiling.

His eyes started to droop, as he sat on the small rug. Sleep overcame him.

Ditzy crept quietly through the kitchen, careful not to wake her unexpected guest. She thought back to the previous night. What the pesasi at the bar said had hurt, and she felt embarrassed she hadn’t spoken to her friends before charging out of the bar at full speed. She’d gone to Rarity’s, but the lights were all off, and she hadn’t wanted to ruin Rarity’s night by waking her. She’d wandered, cold and alone, until she gave up and came home. She’d been surprised when Big Mac had been waiting for her. She’d fumbled her way inside, and he had taken care of her. She recalled sobbing like a child on his shoulder. But he hadn’t pushed her away. He’d just held her, and stroked her mane.

She stopped in her tracks.

He’d called her beautiful. She sat, holding a hoof to her mouth in amazement. Beautiful.

She didn’t remember falling asleep, but she’d awoke tucked into bed, and Big Mac had even been a gentlecolt, and slept on the floor.

Determination filled her. Breakfast. A wonderful breakfast.

She looked at the dismal contents of her pantry. There was not a lot, but she’d been living on a budget for years, and she knew she could make something good from what she had.

But first, she had to clean her face.

Big Mac woke, feeling stiff. He blearily looked around. Sunlight streamed into the small room.

Sunlight?

Why hadn’t the roosters woken him?

He look around. Dinky and Ditzy stared back at him. He blinked slowly. They were still there.

Photos.

He remembered where he was.

Then he heard a soft, musical humming.

Walking slowly into the kitchen, he watched as Ditzy had flitted about the kitchen, the smell of warm, fresh porridge filled his senses. Ditzy was humming cheerily to herself, stirring a small amount of honey into the bubbling pot of oats. Sunlight filtered through the window, her mane flowing like spun gold in the light, as she moved about the kitchen with grace. He watched her, and it seemed like a choreographed dance.

Her wings were spread, a smile of joy on her face. She was not flying, but it seemed to Big Mac that she could take to the sky soaring any minute.

She was beautiful.

Not just the beauty of the previous night, though she was stunningly beautiful then, he had to admit. But this simple, joyous mare before him. Hair unkempt, flowing behind her as she moved. She seemed to positively glow.

He gasped to himself.

The gasp drew her attention. Opening her eyes, she saw Big Mac watching her, and tripped.

Chapter 12

Rarity’s eyes sparkled like diamonds. Like the twinkling stars of the night sky. Her smile could have, that day, outshone even Celestia’s sun.

Ditzy had packed the jewelry and cloak Rarity had loaned her, and left not long after Big Mac had departed. They’d shared breakfast, and Ditzy had apologised multiple times for the previous night. Big Mac had insisted that she had nothing to be sorry about. After the oat porridge, she saw Big Mac to the door.

“AJ’s gunna make me pay for this,” he had chuckled. He paused at the threshold, then turned back to Ditzy. He stepped towards her, and drew her into an awkward hug. “I had fun last night.”

And with that, he’d left.

Dinky and Sweetie Belle had only just awoken; the two had evidently stayed up talking much later than Rarity had ordered lights-out. Rarity organised tea for herself and Ditzy as the two younger foals sat down for breakfast.

“Raaaaaarity,” Sweetie Belle whined. “I wanted to make Dinky breakfast!”

“Why would you want to do that to her?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you two were good friends.”

Rarity chuckled at Sweetie Belle’s pouting.

Rarity had moved into the parlor, motioning Ditzy to follow. She sat at a small table near the window, and poured tea for two.

“So,” was all Rarity had asked.

Ditzy recounted the previous evening, Rarity swelling with pride as Ditzy described her entrance. She nodded in approval as Ditzy had told her she had decided to drink slowly. She beamed when Ditzy told her Big Mac had bought her drink.

“Such a gentlecolt!”

Rarity frowned as Ditzy recalled the events of the dance floor, and held her hoof out to Ditzy when she’d heard Ditzy had come to see her, but hadn’t knocked.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Rarity stroked Ditzy’s hoof. “You should have knocked. I barely got any sleep with those two talking all night anyway.”

Ditzy smiled, and shook her head.

“No, it was better that way,” she said, and continued despite Rarity’s protestations.

She continued the story, blushing as she recalled the events with Big Mac. Rarity was unable to resist an unladylike hoof-pump by the end of the story.

“So, when are you going to ask him out?”

“Umm…” Ditzy looked nervously down at her hooves. “I don’t know. What if he doesn’t like me like that? I don’t want to lose him as a friend.”

Rarity sighed in exasperation.

“Sweetie, he clearly likes you,” Rarity tried to get through to her friend.

“If he likes me, shouldn’t I just wait for him to ask me out?”

“Oh, how old fashioned,” Rarity giggled. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Rarity continued to playfully needle Ditzy, until Dinky and Sweetie Belle joined them in the parlor.

Big Mac had been right. There was all hay to pay when he’d returned late in the morning. Despite there not being as much work as there was in the warmer months, AJ had railed against his supposed irresponsibility. She had assumed he’d drunk too much the night before, and fallen asleep at Caramel’s place, or in a ditch.

While there had been times he’d stopped at Caramel’s place after a hard night out, he resented her insinuations that he’d fall asleep in a ditch. It had happened once. Once!

He hadn’t wanted to explain to AJ what had really happened. His sister probably would have knocked him flat if she’d found he’d spent the night at Ditzy’s place. He hadn’t meant to, and he was by all accounts a gentlecolt about it. But that wouldn’t matter to his sister. That sort of thing ‘jus’ ain’t proper’.

Thoughts of a grey coated pony with a mane like spun gold floated through his mind. He smiled to himself humming a soft tune as he made his way through his daily chores.

He argued with Applejack that evening. He’d told her he was taking Monday off, as he had things he had to attend.

“Yer being slippry’r than a quarray eel,” she shouted. “What’s goin on?”

“Nothing’s going on AJ,” he replied, voice slightly raised. Shouting would not help. “Ah just got some things Ah want to do.”

“What about all the work we gotta do around the farm?” she growled. “What, Ah’m jus supposed to do it all?”

“Is it too much to ask? Just one day,” he asked, a note of pleading in his voice. “Ah got to do something important, but I can’t talk about it. Please.”

“What’s so important ya gotta keep secrets from yer family?”

“Please, AJ,” he asked softly. “Please. Ah never asked for much. Ah never stopped you when you travelled around Equestria with the girls. Please.”

Applejack’s frown softened. “Oh, all right ya big lug,” she smiled. “Jus promise me it’s nuthin that won’t do anything that’ll get yah in trouble.”

“It’s not, Ah promise.”

The mail round went quickly for Ditzy. She’d finished early, and was waiting at the school for Dinky to get out. Cheerilee had asked her in the morning if they could go to coffee. She hadn’t managed to catch up with Cheerilee since the previous Friday, and despite Ditzy’s protest that she was okay, and that what had happened wasn’t her fault, Cheerilee had insisted on making it up to her with coffee at the cafe.

The bell rang, and children poured forth into the yard. There were a few other parents waiting for their children; Filthy Rich had avoided her gaze, and she suspected he was still angry about the incident with Diamond Tiara the previous week.

Cheerilee happily called Ditzy in, and Dinky was sitting with the three crusaders. “Momma,” she ran and wrapped her forearms around her mother’s neck. “Can I play with the girls today? Everyone is going to the park. Can I, can I, can I?”

Ditzy smiled, and patted her daughter on the head.

“Of course, my little muffin crumb,” she answered. “Mommy’s going to go have afternoon tea with Ms Cheerilee, so I will come to the park when I’m done. That sound good?”

Dinky trotted happily back to the girls. “She said yes!”

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Street Performers, yay!”

Cheerilee and Ditzy laughed as the foals cantered out of the building. Cheerilee locked the door, and they were on their way.

They’d made their order at the cafe, Cheerilee a coffee, and Ditzy a tea. Cheerilee had said she always felt she needed coffee after a day teaching.

Ditzy realised soon into the conversation that Cheerilee was babbling nervously. She had apologised for the previous Friday night. But she was kind of rambling, and Ditzy noticed her constantly looking towards the town clock.

“Is everything okay?” Ditzy asked, finally broaching the subject.

“Ummm, yes,” Cheerilee stammered. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“You just seem very, distracted. And you keep looking at the clock. Do you need to go somewhere? You don’t have to stay if you are busy.”

“Nonono,” Cheerilee panicked. “No, I don’t have anywhere to go. Another drink. Please. Would you?”

Ditzy was confused. “Something is clearly up. Please, Cheerilee. I’m your friend. What is on your mind.”

Cheerilee sighed. Perhaps she could talk with Ditzy.

“There,” she breathed a sigh, “there is somepony I–”

She took a deep breath. She did not want to talk about this.

“There is somepony I like. I’ve liked them for some time, I just,” she paused. “I’m not sure they’d be interested in me.”

“Oh,” Ditzy sighed. She had a good suspicion who it was.

Cheerilee was younger than Ditzy by a few years. She was a very pretty mare. They probably would be better suited together than she was. Young. Single. No attachments. No baggage.

She put a smile on for Cheerilee, and tried to cheer her friend up. “You should ask him then. Let him know how you feel.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Cheerilee slumped. “Ummm, he doesn’t come to Ponyville that often anymore.”

Huh.

“I’ve not seen… him, for a while.”

“So we’re not talking about Big Mac?” Ditzy asked, putting it out there as blunt as she could.

Cheerilee broke into a wide smile, laughing.

“No, no, no!” she laughed, wiping a tear from eye. “Not Big Mac. We’ve been friends for too long. Neither of us feel that way about each other. Much to some little ponies chagrin.”

“Caramel, then?” Ditzy asked. “You said you hadn’t seen him for a while.”

Cheerilee broke into laughter again.

“I take that as a ‘no’, then?” Ditzy had begun to smile. The atmosphere had definitely lifted.

“So, are you going to tell me who?”

Cheerilee shook her head.

“Are you going to tell him, at least?”

Cheerilee’s smile dropped a little.

“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not yet. Maybe one day, but not yet. No.”

Ditzy frowned. How could this pretty mare, someone who exuded so much confidence, be afraid? A coat of crimson flashed through her mind. Never mind, she knew. She reached her hoof across and patted Cheerilee’s forearm.

“You’re my friend, and I am here for you,” Ditzy smiled. “You can talk to me about it.”

“Can I?” Cheerilee asked, and Ditzy thought she’d detected a little bitterness there.

“Yes, you can,” Ditzy said firmly. “You are one of my best friends. You can always talk to me. I promise.”

“Maybe,” Cheerilee replied, half hearted.

“Well, you are not the only pony who has a crush on somepony,” Ditzy admitted, blushing. “Maybe if I trust you, you can see that you can trust me?”

Cheerilee sat in silence.

“I think,” Ditzy spoke softly. “I think I kind of like, ummm…

“Big Mac,” she finally whispered.

Cheerilee looked at the grey mare in stunned silence.

“Please don’t tell anyone,” Ditzy pleaded. “I’ve only told Rarity so far.”

“That’s,” Cheerilee beamed, getting over her shock. “That’s wonderful!”

“It’s scary,” Ditzy said.

“Hmmm, yes, love is,” Cheerilee smiled.

“I’m not sure if he even sees me that way.”

Cheerilee laughed. “I’ve known Big Mac for a long time. He’s very shy, so you might have to press him for an answer.”

“I couldn’t do that!” Ditzy yelped in shock.

“If he is interested in you,” Cheerilee replied thoughtfully, “he won’t say it, but he will try to show it.”

Ditzy looked away, taking a very long sip of her tea.

“He will probably be just as scared of rejection as you are.” Cheerilee looked back to the town clock. “Well, I think I need to get along now. And you have a daughter to collect.”

Cheerilee got up and hugged her friend. “Good luck!” she whispered.

And with that, she left.

Ditzy went to the park, thinking over everything Cheerilee had said. She still had no idea who Cheerilee was interested in. She hoped that one day Cheerilee would be able to confide in her. But she’d said Big Mac would try and show his interest, if there was any. She just had to look for the signs.

That worried her. She was not very adept at reading subtle signs and hints.

Dinky had complained about having to leave. She wanted to keep trying to get her busking cutie mark, but Ditzy had told her that it was getting late, and they had homework, and it was a school night. She told the other girls they should make their way home, before it got dark. Dinky sulked, dragging her hooves most of the way home.

Dinky didn’t notice when her mother had stopped dead in her tracks. She looked back to see her mother sitting slack jawed, looking at their house. Dinky looked back to the house.

“Huh?”

They approached the porch, taking everything in.

The floorboards had been sanded and re-treated. The loose ones had been nailed down. Newer straw had been weaved into the hatching. The broken railing had been fixed.

She opened the door, but it still stuck. Why would Greedy have fixed the outside of the house, but left the inside as is? Why would he even fix anything, after she’d been asking for years. It didn’t make sense.

Unless, of course, it wasn’t Greedy.

Ditzy chuckled. She had a good idea who had done the work. And she was certain somepony had helped, by delaying her from coming home early.

And as far as signs went, this was hardly subtle.

Chapter 13

The next day, Ditzy had completed her rounds as fast as she could. Ditzy had stopped to talk to Rarity at the very least.

“I’m going to take your advice,” Ditzy told Rarity. “Tonight.”

She’d collected  Dinky from school, poking out her tongue at Cheerilee as she left. While she appreciated what her friend had done, she had to get Cheerilee back, somehow, for being so sneaky.

“You want to help mommy make some muffins?” Ditzy asked.

“Yeah!” Dinky exclaimed with glee.

The weather pegasi had planned a cool evening tonight, so Ditzy cooked a thick and creamy potato soup to go with the muffins. She poured the soup into two vacuum flasks, and packed two separate brown paper bags with the muffins.

She avoided her daughter’s questions as she packed her own saddle bag with a blanket, one of the bags of muffins, and one of the vacuum flasks and two wooden mugs. She packed Dinky’s school saddlebags with the other flask and bag of muffins, two more mugs, and a smaller blanket.

“Are we going to have a picnic?” Dinky had asked.

“Yes,” Ditzy coyishly answered, “sort of.”

Ditzy helped Dinky into her saddlebags, and then picked up her own.

Dinky tried to guess where they were going for their picnic for most of the trip to Sweet Apple Acres. She would not accept her mother's answer of ‘it’s a surprise’. Dinky’s excitement grew as they rounded the corner, and she’d figured out their destination.

“Why didn’t you say we were coming to see Apple Bloom?” Dinky squealed with delight.

“Well, I did say it was going to be a surprise,” Ditzy smiled. “And that’s not all. I was thinking, you’re both such big fillies now, you might want to have your own picnic, just you and Apple Bloom.”

“Really?” Dinky’s eye widened. “We can have our own picnic?”

“If Applejack or Big Mac say it’s okay.”

Ditzy and Dinky walked towards the Apple family house. Before they could knock on the door, Applejack opened.

“Ah don’t know how long Ah’m gunna be, Granny,” she’d called over her shoulder. “Oh hi, Ditzy, Dinky. What brings y’all round?”

“Is everything okay?” Ditzy asked.

“Oh, it ain’t nuthin. Rare’s got her saddle all up in a twist about summ'it, and needs mah help,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “Ah swear, everythin’s gotta be the ‘worst possible thing ev’r’ with her.’ Ah’ll be back later once Ah’ve sorted this out.”

Ditzy held back a chuckle. She would have staked her very last bit that there was no emergency at the boutique. Luna bless that conniving and shrewd friend of hers.

Dinky stepped forward. “‘Scuse me Applejack. Can Apple Bloom come outside to have a picnic dinner with me?”

Apple Bloom rushed to the door. “Awww, Applejack, please say yes!” Both foals looked up at Applejack with huge, watery eyes.

“Awww, Ah can’t say no to those eyes. Go on you two, just don’t go too far from the house. It’ll be getting dark soon.”

“Umm,” Ditzy turned to Applejack, trying to hide her nerves. “If you’re going out, is Big Mac around?”

“Sure, he’s in the south fields right now. If’n yah wanna wait here, he’ll be back soon.”

“If- if it’s okay, maybe I could meet him out there?”

“Sure thing, Sugarcube,” Applejack answered, not really paying attention. “Now I gotta go see what all this fracas with Rare is about.”

Applejack waved a goodbye to Ditzy, as she trotted down the path into town. Ditzy made her way to the south field, hoping that Big Mac would be easy to find. She found him leaning over, washing his face off in a stream.

Okay, it was now or never. Confidence. Confidence was what Rarity had told her. She could do confidence. Maybe.

“Ummm,” she said quietly, trying not to startle him. “Hi, Big Mac.”

“Ditzy!” he turned with a start. “Ummm, howdy.”

“Have you finished work for the day?”

“Eeyup,” he nodded. His eyes darted around, and he had started to fidget.

Ditzy smiled. While Big Mac wasn’t ordinarily a talker, he’d seemed particularly nervous this evening.

“That’s good,” Ditzy walked towards him. “Somepony did something very nice for me yesterday.”

Big Mac stood stockstill.

“I was hoping, maybe, that somepony might like to,” she paused, looking down. “Maybe have dinner with me?”

Ditzy could hear Big Mac gulp.

“I brought some food with me,” she motioned towards her saddle bags. “In case somepony said yes.”

She waited for a response.

She continued to wait for a response.

Big Mac continued to look at her in stunned silence.

Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe he didn’t like her that way. Maybe she’d come on too strong, and had scared him. He was probably just being nice.

Big Mac nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Ditzy had to try her hardest to stop herself grinning. She took off the saddlebag and placed it on the ground. She retrieved the blanket and laid it on a smooth patch of earth below a tree. She put the two mugs down, and started to pour the still warm soup from the flask. She tore open the paper bag of muffins, using it as an improvised plate for the baked goods.

Big Mac nervously made his way over, and sat down on the blanket. Ditzy handed him one of the mugs of soup, before taking her own. He inhaled the aroma of the thick soup.

He took a sip. Potato soup. It was warm. It was thick, creamy, and just a little peppery. He closed his eyes, and enjoyed the taste of it.

“It’s good,” he smiled, eyes still closed. “Very good.”

She passed him a muffin, looking away. “I hope you like these too.”

Big Mac took a tentative bite of the muffin. Rosemary and sage. They were perfectly cooked, a little stodgy, not underdone, nor overcooked and dry. He took another mouthful of soup, and when the flavors combined, he couldn’t help but moan. She was an amazing cook. Sure, everything she’d served was simple food, nothing fancy like you might get in a Canterlot cafe. But these simple, home cooked meals were wonderful. The Apples knew how to cook anything with apples in it, but anything else they made didn’t compare to the grey mare’s cooking.

“You’re amazing,” he let out, before realising what he’d said. He looked over and found her blushing.

“Ummm,” Ditzy started, staring intensely at something on the blanket by her hooves. “I was wondering if, maybe if you might…"

She looked Big Mac in the eyes. “I was wondering if, well, I thought maybe, if you might want to be my-” She paused to steel herself.

“My very special somepony?” she finished, almost in a whisper.

Big Mac looked into her eyes. The look of hope, mingled with fear. She was holding her breath. Oh horseapples, he hadn’t answered!

“Ah would,” he answered barely above a whisper. He nervously moved a hoof forward, across the blanket, and held one of Ditzy’s. “Ah would like that very much.”

Applejack grizzled as she walked through the door.

“Couldn’t find her good scissors. What kind of emergency is that?”

She looked around to see Granny Smith sleeping in her rocking chair, and two giggling fillies at the table whispering.

“What in tarnation are you two doin’ up at this hour?” Applejack snorted when she saw the two. She called upstairs, “Big Mac, why is Apple Bloom still up?”

Apple Bloom and Dinky broke into fits of laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Applejack scowled. “And where’s that no good brother of yours?”

Dinky and Applebloom looked at each other, and replied in unison. “He’s with his very special somepony.”

Then they broke into giggles again.

Chapter 14

It was Hearth’s Warming Eve, and Big Mac had told his family he would be spending it with Ditzy and Dinky. Apple Bloom had nearly thrown a fit, because Big Mac wouldn’t be home and she wasn’t allowed to go as well. She’d argued with him it that it was the perfect time for them to get their cutie marks in caroling.

Neither Cheerilee nor Caramel had family in town, so they’d joined them for the night too.

Big Mac looked around the small, cosy cottage with pride.  When he’d first come here, the home was run down from years of neglect by the landlord, Greedy Gus. Ditzy had said they were able to cope, but he wasn’t particularly convinced. He’d insisted on helping out around the house with the repairs.

And now he sat in the lounge, with a cider in hoof, talking with Caramel. Cheerilee and Ditzy were in the kitchen, talking over a few glasses of wine. Dinky was resting by the fire, playing with Miss Smarty Pants.

“Those roasted potatoes smell great, Ditz,” Caramel called out. “Cheerilee, you taking notes? Take a few lessons from Ditz, and you’ll have a stallion in no time!”

Ditzy laughed as Cheerilee went storming into the lounge.

“Now listen here, mister!” she scolded. “One. I can cook just fine. Two. I don’t need a stallion. Three. What’s to say my special somepony won’t cook for me?” She playfully punched him on the shoulder. “No wonder Sassaflash wanted to spend time with her family rather than you.” She poked out her tongue. “You should be taking notes from Big Mac. He did the carrots.”

“Got it,” Caramel saluted. “Avoid the carrots.”

Ditzy trotted into the room, smile on her face. “And Cheerilee did the sprouts.”

Caramel pretended to write something on a piece of paper. “Also. Avoid. Sprouts.”

He was rewarded with another swift punch in the arm.

“So,” Big Mac drawled. “Everypony ‘cept you has done something for dinner.” He turned to Cheerilee, “Why are we letting him eat again?”

Caramel stood up on his hind legs. “Mayhaps then I shall sing for my supper.”

“Nooooooooo,” a tiny voice called out from the kitchen.

Ditzy and Cheerilee giggled.

“If you really feel guilty,” Ditzy smiled, “then you can come and make the gravy while I make the yorkshires.”

“Nah,” Caramel smirked. “I don’t feel guilty. Cheerilee, did you want to get that for me then?”

Another punch in the shoulder.

“Alright, alright! I’m coming. Lead the way, Ditzy.”

Cheerilee, Ditzy and Caramel sat around the table. It was tight, the table normally only seated Ditzy and Dinky, and now, occasionally Big Mac. Dinky was seated at the small coffee table in the lounge, and Big Mac had offered to join her.

“So Sassy wants me to meet her parents, but her parents don’t want to leave Cloudsdale,” Caramel complained. “Truth be told, I think they just don’t want their daughter dating an earth pony.”

“That,” Cheerilee remarked, “or they’ve heard your singing.”

“Hey Ditz, how do your parents feel about you dating that old lug over there?” Caramel flicked his head in Big Mac’s direction.

Ditzy avoided his gaze.

“I, ummm,” she started, “haven’t seen them in a while.”

“Yeah, I guess it’d be hard getting Dinky up to see the grands without wings and all,” he smiled. “I guess if me and Sassy get hitched, we might be facing the same problem. Ooof. “ He held his sides and looked to Cheerilee. “What was that for?”

Cheerilee glowered at him.

Ditzy sat looking intently at her food. She didn’t like the topic of her parents, it was hard enough most of the time; but Hearth’s Warming Eve was always the hardest. She knew Caramel hadn’t known, else he wouldn’t have said anything.

The silence was broken by soft sobs. Ditzy turned around, looking for the source. She rushed to her daughter's side.

“S’my fault,” Dinky cried. “S’my fault they won’t talk to momma anymore.”

Ditzy wrapped her wings around her daughter. Dinky buried her face in her mothers mane.

“Shh, shh, shh,” she cooed. “It’s not your fault.”

Caramel and Cheerilee came into the living room.

“Yeah, it’s not like they can’t come and visit you here!” Caramel smiled, trying to cheer Dinky up. Cheerilee smacked a hoof to her head. He was well meaning, but by Celestia he could be dense.

Ditzy smiled wearily, and continued to hug Dinky.

“I haven’t seen my parents since before Dinky was born,” Ditzy explained. “They told me I had to make a choice.

“I chose her. They haven’t spoken to me since.” She pulled Dinky in closer. “But I don’t regret that choice. You are a very special pony, and I wouldn’t trade you for the world.”

After dinner, Big Mac rummaged around the saddlebags he’d left by the door. He pulled out a small present, wrapped in green paper with a white ribbon.

“Dinky,” he called. “Can you come here?”

Dinky moved from where she’d been sitting between her mother's legs. She eyed the present Big Mac held out with one hoof.

“For me?” she asked.

“Eeyup,” he smiled. “From me, and the whole Apple family.”

Dinky carefully unwrapped the small gift, and as she peeled the paper away, she looked. It was a very old, well worn book. Ditzy looked over her daughter's shoulder.

“Advanced Unicorn Magic,” Ditzy read from the cover. “Ooohh, you don’t have that one, do you?”

Dinky hugged the book too her chest. “Thank you, Big Mac.”

Big Mac moved forward, nudging her. “Open it to the front page.”

Dinky opened the book to the front page. There was something written in there, in very delicate script.

Dear Dinky Doo,

My good friends Applejack and Big Mac wrote to me, telling me that you were a very special young unicorn. They said you were very clever with magic, and that they wanted to get you something to help you learn.

This was my very first copy of Advanced Unicorn Magic, I hope it helps you in your studies as much as it helped me in mine.

I hope we can meet next time I am in Ponyville, I would very much like to see what you have learned.

Yours faithfully,

“Princess… Twilight Sparkle?” Dinky looked up at Big Mac in shock.

“Eeyup.”

Dinky very carefully put the book down, then wrapped her forearms around Big Mac’s neck. Big Mac stroked her mane.

“You are a very special pony,” he told her. “I can see it. Your ma can see it. And now, even a Princess can see it.”

After Caramel and Cheerilee had left, and Dinky had spent the evening reading her new book. Dinky fell asleep on the couch reading; Ditzy wrapped her tight in her favorite blanket. She grabbed a pillow from the bed and placed it gently under Dinky’s head.

“Sleep tight, my little muffin-crumb.”

Big Mac and Ditzy laid next to each other by the fire. Ditzy leaned against Big Mac, and he rested his head over her neck.

They didn’t talk when they were alone like this. They so very rarely had alone time, so they’d just sit there enjoying each others company. There weren’t need for words, there wasn’t a need to do anything; just enjoy each others’ company.

That is why Big Mac was surprised when Ditzy broke the silence.

“I guess you’d like to know about my parents?” she’d asked, with a sigh.

“Only if you want to tell me,” he nuzzled her, breathing in the smell of her mane.

“I… I think I do,” she nodded. “I haven’t talked about it with anyone.

“I was barely a mare when I fell pregnant with Dinky. I was attending Canterlot University; my father wanted me to follow him into business. I wasn’t very good, but he’d insisted I live up to the Doo name.

“I met another student, Jet Set. He was handsome and charming. I fell for him. We dated for a while, but I never really met many of his friends. He’d insisted we keep our relationship a secret.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I told him,” she started to sniffle. “He said he would come over right after class ended.

“I waited alone in my dorm all night; he never came. When I saw him the next day, he turned his head away and walked right past me.

“When I started showing, I went home. I tried to keep it from my parents but they found out. They told me I had to give the foal up for adoption.

“They couldn’t have their daughter an unwed mother,” she spat out. “How would that look to the neighbors?

“I didn’t want to give my child up. Maybe I was young, maybe I was foalish. But I couldn’t give her up. I could feel her kicking inside me. I would sing songs to her. He may not have loved me, but I loved her, even before she was born. I refused every time my parents mentioned adoption.

“It was Hearth’s Warming Eve, when they introduced me to some ‘friends’ of theirs. They were a young pegasus couple from Las Pegasus. They’d seemed really nice, very interested in me, and my studies. I should have seen what was happening, but I loved my parents, why would I have any reason to distrust them?

“It wasn’t until later in the evening, the young mare came up to me, that I realized what they had done. She had thanked me for what I was doing for them, they’d been trying to have foals for years, but couldn’t.

“They’d tried to organize the adoption behind me back,” Ditzy snarled, startling Big Mac. He’d never seen this gentle, kind mare angry before.

“I yelled at them. I told them it wasn’t their decision to make.

“That’s when Dad gave me the ultimatum. If I wanted to keep the child, it wouldn’t be under their roof.”

Ditzy started shaking violently. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Big Mac drew her in close. He couldn’t take this pain away, but he could listen.

“So I left. I took a transport back to Canterlot. I knew where Jet Set lived. He’d ignored me before, but maybe he would help now.”

“When I got there, he looked down on me with such contempt. His fiancé was there, and he didn’t want me around. She came to the door nose in the air. He told her I was a beggar, that he was trying to explain to me they’d already given to charity.

“She looked down at me, told me I should probably go to a shelter. Then he turned his back on me again and closed the door.

“I stayed in Canterlot long enough to give birth to Dinky. We’d had to stay in a homeless shelter for a few months. I sent a letter to my parents, telling them about the birth. It came back, return to sender.

“I managed to save a bit of money, working for a donut shop as a counter hand. The owner was nice enough to let me bring Dinky in to work with me. He was the one who suggested I come to Ponyville, for a fresh start.

“So that’s it. That’s why Dinky and I are alone,” she slumped, emotionally exhausted from the story. She’d been crying as she told the story. She hated that. It was so long ago, why should she still let them hurt her?

“You’re not alone. Not anymore,” Big Mac nuzzled Ditzy’s cheek. “You have me, and Cheerilee. And even though he’s a little daft and insensitive at times, you have Caramel. You also have Rarity, and my sister.”

“I know,” she smiled weakly, rubbing her cheek on his. “It’s just hard to believe. It’s only been a few months. Before that, I didn’t have anyone. We’ve been alone for so long.”

“Well, we’re here for you now.” He laid a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Ditzy awoke sore. She was on the floor near the fire, which was barely embers now. She placed a few more pieces of wood on the fire, hoping they’d burn through the rest of the night. She nudged Big Mac awake, and herded him to the bed. She was a little nervous; they’d not spent the night together in the same bed yet. They’d not been that close yet. She’d not spent the night with anyone in a long time, other than Dinky, but that was very different.

Big Mac barely woke, he moved on auto-pilot, following her gentle prodding. He climbed into the bed, and started snoring again before Ditzy had even climbed onto her side. She covered them both with a blanket, and cuddled into his warm back. Unicorns and earth ponies always seemed warmer than Pegasi.

Ditzy felt safe. Secure. Loved.

“Luna. Celestia. Cadence. Twilight. I don’t know if any of you are listening, but… thank you.”

Ditzy smiled, and drifted into a peaceful slumber.