Ditzy relaxed in the sauna of the spa enjoying the steam. She laid stretched out on her stomach on the warm wood of the bench. Her wings were half unfurled in a relaxed position at her sides. She had never had a professional full body message before. Her masseuse within the first five minutes guess she worked a job that required her to fly do heavy lifting.

She walked in to the sauna forty-five minutes later very sore but after ten minutes in the steam Ditzy felt much better, her wings had become as so free moving and nimble.

She let out a relaxed sigh.

"You sounds like you are enjoying yourself." Rarity, who was sitting across from her in a plush robe, chimed in response.

"Most certainly." Ditzy smiled back at her. She was glad it was just her and Rarity for the moment, she knew she was wearing her 'derp' expression the entire time.

Rarity took a quick glance around and dropped her voice.

"Ditzy can I ask you a personal question? There's something that has been nagging at the back of my mind."

"What is it?"

"That night we were in Fillydelphia, I remember you didn't come back to your room until that next morning."

Ditzy looked up at her with a look shock on her face.

Rarity reached out a affectionate hoof to hers.

"Its OK, never told anyone sweetheart. I would never embarrass my friends with such scandalous gossip behind their backs." She gave Ditzy's hoof a pat. "I'm one who would like to put our past mistakes behind us, but I just need know. You spent that night with Ditty, didn't you?"

Ditzy gave a silent nod. Normally she would have broken down at such an accusation but within the last month she had grown to accept Ditty merely as a teacher and, just as Rarity put it, leave her mistakes in the past.

"I had my suspicions that you may had well ahem.... found other company that night. It was confirmed later that year when you were pregnant. I figure you found somepony at the hotel pool or something. But when I saw Ditty and Dinky side by side yesterday at school I started putting the clues together and I just had to hear it directly from you."

Ditzy let out a worried sigh.

"Is the resemblance between the two that apparent?" She asked.

Rarity pursed her lips.

"Well, it is to me, but I'm gifted with that as a fashionista. I'm good with faces and I've got a trained eye for image and subtle habits of ponies. For instance, both Ditty and Dinky share the same slight wave in their mane, they hold their posture in their back legs slightly to the left the same way. Also I've notice that the angle, smoothness, and shape of swirl in their horns are alike."

Ditzy blinked, she never realized that horn shape was obviously a hereditary trait in unicorns.

"Ditty has no clue about this does he?" Rarity asked.

Ditzy shook her head.

"Your secret is safe with me dear." Rarity said quietly. "Pinkie Pie swear!"

Ditzy looked up a Rarity with a smile as she saw her go through the motions. Just then Fluttershy and Twilight walked in.

"Oh hey girls." Twilight asked cheerfully. "What are you talking about."

"Oh, nothing. Just reminiscing on the good old days." Rarity said with out missing a beat. "Have any of you been to Sweet Apple Acres since the first harvest? Applejack told me this week marks the first day of Autumn."

The conversation between the four of them drifted from "The Running Of The Leaves" to their fondest memories of the seasons.

Anytime Ditzy got a little too quiet or the conversation drifted away from her, Rarity made it a point to ask her opinion or fill her in on any details she might not know. Ditzy found the who group very nice and entertaining. Twilight was very smart and caring, and Fluttershy was nice and just as quiet as her if not more.

The conversation eventually drifted to the topic of Ditzy and her experiences raising Dinky. The other mares loved hearing about Dinky when she was a yearling.

Both Rarity and Twilight squeed in delight when Ditzy shared them her story of her first unicorn kiss from Dinky.

Later after a relaxing pedicure both Ditzy and Rarity walked out of the spa feeling refreshed.

"Hey ya girls!" Applejack called out to them standing across the street managing her apple stand.

"Oh hey Applejack!" Rarity called back in a sing-song voice before the two of them crossed the street to talk to her.

"You have a good time being pampered and all?" Applejack asked giving a sniff, the two of them smelt like lilacs and herbal salt from their baths.

"Loved it." Rarity said happily. "What did you think of your first visit Ditzy?"

"Very enjoyable." Ditzy said. "I wish Dinky was old enough to appreciate something like that. But I'm afraid it's gonna be while before I can share it with her."

Applejack gave a chuckle.

"You got that right hon! Speaking of your little one, ah just saw her with the rest of ma sister's friends head'n out to the clubhouse on our property. The whole pack of them looked like they have been play'n around in the old sandlot again."

Ditzy gave a sigh.

"Well I'm glad Saturday night is Dinky's bath night." Ditzy said shrugging at the two of them.

"A little dirt never hurt anyone. Ah find a dirt covered filly a healthy sign of her be'n happy and adventurous."

Rarity gave a curt look at Applejack, obviously not agreeing with her.

"Well I should go find my little dust muffin before she gets anymore dirty." Ditzy smiled and flapped her wings to get off the ground.

"Ciao Darling!" Rarity called up to her. "We should have lunch together sometime. Stop by in Boutique anytime you're by there on your rounds."

"OK, sounds good."

"Bye!" Applejack call up to her.

Ditzy waved at the two of them as she flew off. She took a moment to feel the motion her wings. The massage had completely loosened her wings in places she did not know were stiff. She felt like a young filly in flight school again. Her wings were so limber and she had felt a new sense of invigoration with the energy to match.

She let her gaze drift down on Ponyville below, watching the street below her. She noticed Cheerilee was walking out of Sugar Cube corner with a look of indignation in her walk.

Ditzy took a quiet circle to get a second glace of the intersection. This time she saw Ditty walking out of the sweet shop with a look of rejection on his face. Ditzy landed silently on a rooftop behind Ditty to get a better look at him.

Her thoughts about picking up her daughter had completely vanish from her mind. Something deep inside her knew that both Cheerilee's and Ditty's were in there together and now were leaving apart.

She looked down the road and could barely make out Cheerilee's mane in the crowd of ponies. She looked back at Ditty who glance up the road in Cheerilee's direction and then flattened his ears and hung his head. Ditty then started heading in the opposite direction of Cheerilee.

Ditzy had to make a split second decision on who to follow, Cheerilee or Ditty? Before the decision completely solidified in her head Ditzy felt her wings give a couple quick flaps pushing her in Ditty's direction.

She followed him very stealthy through the air. Ditzy was now even more thankful with her trip to the spa. The added flexibility not only made her flying easier, but quieter as well.

Ditty still hung his head, his eyes did not once look up higher to see beyond where he was walking. The weather was overcast that day so Ditzy could fly a bit closer above him with out risk of him seeing her shadow.

Ditzy followed him first expecting he was returning to his home, but he took a turn in opposite direction when he reached a intersection. This only sparked Ditzy's curiously even more.

She followed him a bit further, darting between building tops. Ditty did not look up one bit, he just kept walking. He eventually stepped off the road and walked through the gates of the Ponyville cemetery.

Ditzy followed him in to the grounds very perplexed wondering if Ditty was so depressed he in fact had gotten himself lost. She flew down only a few feet of the ground, making sure not pass directly over any of the gravestones out of a respect for the dead.

Ditty walked down a few rows stopped in front of a tiny gravestone that had moss grown over it. Ditzy was fortunate to find a large stone mausoleum close by to land quietly behind it. Ditzy peeked around the corner of the stone structure and saw Ditty scraping off the moss of the gravestone with his hoof.

"Hi Mom." Ditty said somberly out loud when he sufficiently cleaned it off.

Ditzy felt her heart catch in her throat. She mentally slapped herself on the head, 'Ditty wasn't lost, he was going to see his mother's grave.' She thought.

She suddenly realized that she was listening in on a private conversation. She felt humiliated, she started wishing she followed Cheerilee instead. At least with her Ditzy could have innocently landed by her and asked her what was going on. If Ditty found out she was there, there would be nothing but awkward questions and accusations of her sticking her nose in other pony's business.

It was that fear that froze Ditzy to the spot and made her wings snap shut. She huddled closer to the wall hoping her grey coat would act as a camouflage against the granite.

"I know it's been a while, nearly twenty years." Ditty continued. Ditzy couldn't help but listen. "I've moved back to Ponyville. I've got a job as a music teacher at the school. Yeah music, I guess you've never seen my cutie mark have you?" He turned his body so his flank faced the gravestone.

"Yeah a microphone, whoever thought your little colt would turn out to be a singer?" Ditty gave out a small non-convincing nicker.

"I got it when I was living with Aunt Stelly and Uncle Timber in Fillydelphia. I.... I saw Dad once in Fillydelphia too." Ditty hung his head again. He did not sound at all happy to say it.

"You were right he was no good. I doubt he even knew who I was or that I was ever born. He was cruel Mom! I saw him hit a mare no older than I was, she was caring for a yearling. And Dad hit her in a drunken rage!" Ditty gave a sniff. Ditzy was horrified at the story she was hearing. "I know it was the drink was took you away from me, and it was the drink that cause Dad to get thrown in jail. I have a weakness for it too Ma. I've been going to meetings for seven years now, something you said you would never do. At times I ask myself what if you did, would you still be here? Would we have stayed in Ponyville for a few more years? I would have made some real friends here in town? Would I be the same pony today?" Ditty took a labored breath.

"It takes things away Mom, the drink. It took you from me, it took Dad from you, and it took my memories. I can't remember things Mom, my addiction gave me blackouts. I also don't remember much as a colt in Filly, I think I intentionally drank to forget it."

Ditzy heard Ditty give a small sob.

"I've forgotten Mom! I've forgotten that feeling of touching my horn to your head every night when you got home from work."

Ditty lowered his head further so that his horn laid on the gravestone as if in a sad attempt to feel it again. Ditty's back was to Ditzy but she could see in the shudders in his body that he was crying.

"I forgotten the unicorn's kiss Mom. I remember it was the special way that kept us together. It told me that though you had bad moments and yelled at me, you still deep down loved me, even if you hid it. Mom I feel like I'm loosing you all over again. I'm losing the good memories, and all that's left are the bad. I'm scared. If I lose the part of me that loved you, all that would be left would be the part of me that was afraid of you, that hated dad, and that wants to drink. I thought if I could clean up and come back to Ponyville I could start making some good memories, make a better life for myself. But today I found out that I was wrong, I love someone but she doesn't love me back. I've only made her angry. She told me I was thick, and she right. I'm still a faker Ma, I'm still playing make-believe. I smile on the outside but deep down I feel like an empty pony who is losing all the good things."

Ditty finally let out a full weep.

Ditzy was still frozen to the spot, her heart aching for him. He was a good stallion, Ditzy knew it. Dinky loved talking about him when she got home. He wasn't a drunk, he was not violent like his father. He shouldn't blame himself. Ditzy felt somewhat responsible for his lost memory. No she didn't cause it, but she was intentionally keeping one memory in particular from him.

Ditzy leaned back behind the stone, she buried her head in her hooves. She realized she had been caught up worrying about what other ponies thought when they found out who exactly she had a one night stand with, and that she secretly treasured it. But now she discovered that it didn't matter.

What did matter was the stallion of whom she had shared it with not only had no recollection of it, but was facing even more pain and felt even more alone than her. She silently cursed Cheerilee for hurting him, and at the same time she thought herself no more terrible than her.

She sat there with her head buried, completely hidden from Ditty for a while she tried to wrestle her thoughts.

Ditzy suddenly realized Ditty was no longer crying anymore. She looked back over the corner and saw he had disappeared. Ditzy quickly shot straight up in the air her efforts of being stealthy entirely abandoned.

She looked around and saw in the distance Ditty was already crossing the street outside of the graveyard. She saw he was heading towards the bar that sat across the street from the graveyard. She gave a gasp and made a dash straight for him. She was about to call out to stop him when another voice called out.

"Ditty! Stop!"

Ditzy panicked and in a single move swooped down and hid behind a tree next to the graveyard entrance. She looked over and saw the voice that called out belonged to Mr. Cake, the stallion who owned Sugar Cube Corner.

Ditty stopped and looked up at Mr. Cake slightly shocked.

"What are you doing?" Mr. Cake had ran right up to him.

"I....I....." Ditty stammered holding his head down in shame. Mr. Cake put a hoof up to his shoulder.

"It's alright, you don't need to say anything. I saw what that -pardon my language- bitch said to you at the store today! My wife and I thought is was just awful. She sent me out to find you. I noticed you were not at home, so I thought I'd play it safe and check around the bars."

Ditty didn't look up at him.

"Sounds like you need a sponsor, at least for the night. We all hit rough patches from time to time, remember step three son. Don't blame yourself for feeling the need to do it, but we can choose not to act on it. Come on I'll take you back to the shop, its closed now and Pinkie is out having a party with her friends. It can be just you me and the Mrs. We can have some tea and talk about it."

Ditty finally looked up at him his face a complete mess.

"OK." He said.

"Sweet Celestia, looks like you been through worse then I thought. I'm glad I found you."

"I just came from Mom's grave." Ditty said followed by what sounded like the onset of another sob.

Mr. Cake didn't say anything but gave him a full hug and slowly walked him down the street away from the bar.

Ditzy watched them behind the tree with a tremendous sense of relief. She was able to figure out quickly that Mr. Cake was obviously a member of his AA group. She knew Ditty was in good hooves if not the best hooves for tonight.

She sat watching the two walking away and pondered her situation. This time she gave her mind the much needed time to think clearly. She weighed her options had and decided she first she needed information before she did anything more harmful.

Ditzy took off in to the sky towards the Ponyville library. When she got there she knocked on the door of the building magically built in a tree. Spike the purple dragon answered the door.

"Uh can I help you." He asked a little confused at Ditzy expression.

"Is Twilight Sparkle here?" Ditzy ask quite sternly, she didn't have time to be shy and worried about her eyes.

"Uh no she's over at Sweet Apple Acres. Pinkie Pie is having a party there. Twilight left me here and said I couldn't go until I reorganize the K's through the W's."

"Oh, OK thanks." Ditzy said.

"Your welcome." Spike replied not looking happy to be returning to work.

'Good.' Ditzy thought to herself. 'I can talk to Twilight and then take Dinky home.'

Dinky perked her ears up and slowly opened her eyes. She had only been asleep in her bed for a short time. The sound of the front door closing woke her from her slumber. Dinky focused her ears to the soft noises coming from downstairs. She was able to identify her mother's voice but could not make out what she was saying.

Dinky quietly slipped out of her bed and tip-hoofed out of her room to the landing at the top of the stairs. She crouched down and crawled up to the edge of the top step. She could see the kitchen lights were on and heard her mother talking to somepony in the kitchen.

"He was kind of arrogant at first, his singing and the charming talk. But after he had a few drinks, and I mean a lot, I got to see the honest side of him. He's caring, sympathetic and afraid, so much afraid. My heart went out to him. We... we... spent the night together. That's how Dinky came to be."

Dinky heard the sound of a coffee mug being quickly placed down on the table.

"Ditty Hooves is Dinky's father!" The other pony's voice gasped, it belong to Twilight Sparkle.

"Yes." Ditzy said back in a slightly indifferent tone. "Rarity was able to see the family resemblance. That's what we were talking about in the sauna this morning before you and Fluttershy walked in. Up until then only Cheerilee and my father knew were the only other ponies who knew."

Dinky gave a quiet gasp and covered her mouth with her fore hooves.

"We were both drunk, Ditty much more than me. He does not remember me at all from that night. He only remembers being rejected by Cheerilee and Rarity."

"The magic spell." Ditzy quietly whispered to herself, trying to put together the facts as best her young mind it could.

"Cheerilee told me he had many blackouts from his drinking back then. He's since cleaned up, I thought things were alright but I've found out he's forgotten even more than that, and he's afraid the he may be losing even more. That's why I wanted to talk to you. You're able to do memory spells right? Can we find a way to help him get back his lost memories back?"

A moment of silence hung between the two of them. Dinky heard one of the chairs in the kitchen give a creak as one of the ponies shifted their weight in it.

"How do I start? Memory spells are a bit complicated." Twilight started.

"Aren't they similar to unicorn kisses?" Ditzy asked.

"Well, yes and no." Twilight sounded taken aback by Ditzy's comment. "Unicorn kisses are formed from an emotional connection between unicorns with their parents and offspring."

"And their mates." Ditzy added.

Twilight sputtered for a second.

"How do you know that?" Twilight asked Ditzy.

"I read a book on it years ago, out of caution for raising Dinky. Also in Fillydelphia...... Ditty shared it with me. I first though in his drunkenness he did some sort of failed magic, it felt good so I didn't say anything at the time. I didn't fully understand what he did till I read about it in the book."

"Ooooh." Twilight said in concern. "He must have fallen completely head over hooves for you that night. I've never heard of couples being able to do kiss within their first night meeting. Well, granted unicorns don't go around sharing stories of their first time they had their first mate's kiss. The mate's kiss only happens when, well..... you know...... it's.... kinda personal."

"Today I found out Ditty has forgotten what a kiss feels like. Also that more of his memories are slipping away." Ditzy continued. "I remember the book saying that when unicorns bond with their mate through the kiss it is a permanent thing that forms a special link between the two that grows stronger the more the two interact with each other."

Dinky heard one of them tap a hoof on the kitchen table.

"I got to admit Ditzy I would have never guessed you knew this much on unicorn magic and it's connection to emotions and memories. I can see where your going with this, you think that very link could bring back Ditty's memories. But I'm already seeing a few complications. First, when I used my memory spell on my friends when Discord made then forget their loss was purely an act of magic that I was easily able to reverse it's affects. Ditty's memory loss sounds psychological, possibly physical from brain damage from his drinking. Second, studies have shown that the kiss between mates is indeed much more powerful and different than the kiss is between child and parent. You're right, if you and Ditty were to form the link again there would be no doubt that emotionally it would bring back those feelings to his memory. But that would be only an emotional recall, he would only remember what he felt but not what happened, factual information is not shared in that kind of link. And that leads to the third problem. If Ditty has completely forgotten his connection to you then the only way the two of you could form the link again is if you initiated the kiss. But that is impossible because you're a pegasus and do not have a horn."

The room went quiet for a long time, Dinky though for a moment that the two of them might gotten suspicious that she was awake and was listening to them until she heard her mother give a sniff.

"It's OK Ditzy. It may seem bleak, but if Ditty is hurting we can find him help. We'll get the right kind of ponies to work on it. I'm glad you asked me to bring these books maybe we can find an earlier case of something like this happening before."

Dinky slowly crept back to her room. She hated seeing her mother sad, the sound of hearing her cry bothered her even more. Her mother did not like to show it in front of her. Dinky knew her mother would lock herself in the bathroom and run the faucet to hide her crying. But Dinky was smart enough to know what she was doing in there. After her mother stopped and came out Dinky would pretend she didn't hear it and try to make her happy again.

Dinky now understood why her mother was crying that first day when Mr. Hooves started teaching at her school. Mommy was crying because Mr. Hooves loved Miss Cheerilee, and Mommy actually loved him, but Mr. Hooves couldn't remember.

"Mr. Hooves is my daddy." Dinky said quietly in to the darkness of her room. She gave a little smile to herself. She liked Mr. Hooves he was nice, funny and he taught her how to use her horn magic. "But the magic spell is keeping him from remembering and making Mommy cry."

Dinky walked up to her bed post and picked a crimson cape that she draped over it before she went to bed.

Earlier that day Sweetie Belle brought Dinky to the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo all unanimously agreed to let Dinky join them in their quest to earn their cutie marks. Her initiation was complete with her presentation an official Cutie Mark Crusader crimson cape.

Using her magic Dinky picked up her cape and skillfully placed it over her shoulders and tied it around her neck. She turned around to face the hallway, bravely posing with it on, and quietly said.

"I promise you wont cry anymore Mommy! You may not have a horn to share the special kiss with Daddy but I do. I'm gonna break the spell using my magic and help him remember you."