3rd year, 301st day-

Why do I keep putting my hopes into the false prospect that things will get better? When will I finally learn that Ponykind will always live up to the worst of my expectations again and again?

Much as the grand galloping gala was a disaster, so went the family reunion. I used a walk on cloud spell, so that I could join Ditzy in Cloudsdale. I've never been up here before, even during my days at the academy. Daddy Doo greeted us, and Ditzy left to go talk to some of her other relatives. Meanwhile, Daddy showed me around the rainbow factory, where they create the weather. I always knew the Pegasus Ponies controlled the weather, but this... this is simply amazing! Who knew they had such an extensive operation up here?

It was soon that we trotted off to the grand pavilion for the reunion. It was then that I met Ditzy Doo's extended family, nearly two hundred Pegasus of different shapes and Sizes- with a few Unicorns and Earth Ponies that had married into the family, like I did. I even had the opportunity to meet several cousins of Ditzy who bore an uncanny resemblance to my wife- except they were all different colors than she was, and has no eye problems. All of the Ditzy recolors were huddled around Dinky, cooing over how adorable she was. I almost felt sorry for my little girl, with all those mares fighting over getting to hold her.

Much to my surprise, I had not seen Ditzy Doo at all since we arrived in Cloudsdale. Where in Equestria had she gotten to? My question was soon answered, by two mares screaming at each other coming into the hall, causing all of the relative in the hall to fall silent. We then saw Ditzy and her mother burst into the room, raging at each other. Her mother... due to the fact that my words would be so horribly biased, I will spare this this journal a description of that sour old mare. She was busy yelling at my wife for disgracing the family by bringing a Unicorn to the reunion, of all things, while Ditzy shot back that I was as much a part of the family as she was, and if I wasn't welcome, than neither was she.

Not wanting to cause inter-family trouble, I tried to go and reason with Ditzy's mother. But when I approached, I saw a look of rage form on the old mare's face, and before I could react, I found myself horse-kicked back into the refreshment table, knocking it over. Every Pony in the room's eyes were on their little drama playing out here.

"Why don't you get out of here, hornhead! Go back to your own kind!"

Pulling myself up from the smashed table, I wiped the spilled punch and scattered oats off my face. I was barely holding my rage at this crone back, fighting off the urge to turn her into a bat, leech, or something equally unappealing. Walking up to her, I stared that old mare straight in the eyes, and coldly told her;

"As you wish."

I had had enough. First I had put up with cruel remarks directed at Ditzy on the ground below. Now I must put up with the hatred directed at me up here for what I am? No, I will not stay here and let her treat me like garbage. I'm leaving... right now.

As I trot out of the hall, I can hear a voice pleading after me.

"Midnight?"

"M-midnight?"

3rd year, 325th day-

Well, Ponyville... this is goodbye. After three long years of my life here, after everything that has happened, the good times, and the bad... I will miss this place more than I believed previously I would. I've already said my goodbyes to Breezy and Big Macintosh, though I don't think they fully grasp that I'll probably not be coming back.

I left Cloudsdale immediately following the blow up, and made my way home. I had my things packed, and was out of the house long before Ditzy and Dinky got back from the reunion. Rest assured, Ditzy and Dinky will be well taken care of. Many of the mares in town have already started to step up, and help Ditzy out. And her friends Bon Bon and Heartstrings have actually started to snap at the ponies who make fun of her. Ponyville is changing, the ponies becoming more tolerant of others with differences, like Ditzy. A bit of guilt for ther past actions, perhaps?

As for myself, dear journal, I am not leaving because of a small fight with Ditzy's mother. No, that would not be enough to rip me away from my wife and daughter, my treasures. Sky Runner caught me on my way out of Cloudsdale, and delivered some most unfortunate news. The university has recalled me... on the orders of certain Ponies, in high positions of the Equestrian bureaucracy. Ponies with connections to a certain old Pegasus Mare, I'm pretty sure. I wasn't given an option in the matter, and I was told it was for the good of the kingdom; that the fate of Equestria rested in our Hooves.

Ditzy... oh my angel, it is killing me to leave you. Breezy has told me that you shattered to pieces after I vanished. That you stay your usual happy self during the day, and then ponies would pat near your house could hear you crying yourself to sleep every night. Dinky... growing up, will you even remember me? Before I left town, I gave out a polite request that I'm not to be mentioned in Ponyville again. You will not have to deal with the pain of hearing about a runaway father you never knew.

I would fight to stay with you both if I could... but even I cannot fight off the combined magic of the entire royal unicorn corps! We would have to spend the rest of our life as outlaws on the run, and you deserve better than that. Besides, there is no telling what they would do to my wife and daughter if I refused to cooperate. I've told those who know where I've gone that I have gone on a quest to find a spell to correct Ditzy's eyes. That is a partial truth, as that is one thing I plan to research, from the laboratory in Tambleon I'm being exiled to. What a reward, being stripped away from my nice warm bed beside the lovliest mare in all of Equestria, to be sent away to a cold and forboding village high in the Purple Mountains.

Mark my words, however... I will find a way out of this. As soon as I can find a way, I will get back to my Ditzy and Dinky, and woe to any and all who get in my way! I will bury those ponies who took away what was most precious to me in a night that never ends!