Chapters There's no more bubbles.
I dip the funny pink thing into the bowl, and pull it out, and shake my head, but the bubbles don't come. I put the thing back into the bowl and see that the stuff inside is all gone. I don't know what to do now. I still can't see Mommy or Miss Sweetie or the cart, and I'm feeling very hungry and sleepy.
I don't like being all by myself. Daddy says I am not old enough to be all by myself, and it is kinda scary. But maybe Mommy will come back and we can all eat together and then we can go to sleep. But I want to sleep now. I want to sleep with Miss Sweetie because she likes to sleep with me. And Miss Sweetie is so soft and warm, and she doesn't like to be alone too.
I try to sleep now, but I am still really hungry and my belly hurts. When Mommy comes back, we can have the purple muffins, because purple muffins are my most favorite. And Daddy can say things to me about flying, and I will learn how to fly, because Daddy says that's what pegusis ponies do. Then we can live in the sky like the other pegusis ponies.
We can also look at the stars too. Daddy said that they come into the sky when the sky is all dark. He said that the stars make lots and lots of pictures. He sometimes sits with me and we look at the stars. I like to find lots of pictures in the sky.
But where are Daddy and Mommy now?
I still can't sleep because I am too scared, and I start crying. I get scared of the dark sometimes, and when I get scared, daddy will hug me and let me sleep with him and Mommy all night, and he tells me that everything will be okay. But Daddy can't hug me and sleep with me, because he is not here. I am still scared and hungry, but Mommy and Daddy will be here soon, so it's okay. I will be not scared soon.
Then I hear a very quiet sound. But I can't see anything in the dark. Then I see something floating towards me. I start to feel happy because a bubble is floating towards me. I love bubbles a whole lot, and this one is glowing. It says, "Follow me." I follow the bubble to where it is going.
The bubble floats to some trees and goes around them. I walk around the trees just like the bubble did. I sometimes can't see where the bubble is because I can't see so good. But when it gets close I can see it better. I like this bubble. It is like my new friend. I like making friends, but lots of little ponies like me get loud sometimes and hit me. But I don't care, because Daddy always makes me feel better.
Then I smell something that smells like muffins. The glowy bubble floats over a muffin that is on the ground. "Have a muffin. You need to eat," the bubble says, and I do. I eat the whole muffin all the way, and it doesn't taste as good as the purple ones, but it still tastes good.
Then the bubble floats somewhere else, and I follow it. The bubble floats all over and I try to go faster, but I fall sometimes. I don't move too good or see too good, so the glowy bubble friend goes slow. Then there a big hole. The hole is very long and has lots and lots of water moving inside it.
I don't like lots of water very much. I like just a little bit, when it is bathtime. But I don't like a lot of water like there is in the hole. The bubble floats over to a lying down tree and goes over it. I walk to the tree and walk on it until there is no more tree.
Then I follow the bubble again. I follow it around until it floats over a muffin. I am still hungry so I can't wait to eat the muffin. But my hoof touches something that looks like thing that the big pony at school pulls to make a loud sound that makes little ponies leave. I try to take it with my hooves, but it flies away. Then a big thing rolls over and goes away. I hear a loud sound, and I go to eat the muffin.
Then the glowy bubble floats around and I go where it goes. It goes over another tree that is lying down on another big hole. I walk on it, and my hoof touches the pully thing again. I walk more and there is no more tree. I keep folowing the glowy bubble.
I don't know where the bubble is going. Maybe it's taking me to see Mommy and Daddy. When I see Mommy and Daddy, maybe they will say I can keep my bubble friend. The bubble can be friends with Miss Sweetie, and Miss Sweetie and the bubble can play together just like Miss Sweetie plays with me. Even Daddy can play too. I love playing with Daddy.
I still feel a bit sleepy, but I can still stay awake and follow the bubble.
Author's Note
I just want to say, when I first read "Bubbles", I cried more than I ever have. Seriously. I have read stuff about child abuse or abandonment before, and I didn't cry even half as much as I did then. I am sure it has to do with what derpy's thoughts were in the last paragraph. That paragraph always gets to me.
Abandoning a child when their mental state makes them unable to understand what is going on. That is just sad.
"Shh."
The bubble floats in front of my face and says, "Stay quiet." And I do. Sometimes when I am playing, Mommy tells me to be quiet. I stay quiet for a long time, and sometimes I forget and start playing again. Then Mommy gets loud again.
My belly starts making noise. "Shh," I say to my belly. Then the bubble floats to another muffin. I eat the whole muffin. Then I turn and follow the glowy bubble until I see a big, scary, sleeping doggy.
"Shh, you need to stay quiet. Don't wake it up." I try to stay quiet as I follow the bubble, not making a sound. I like doggies, and I play with a lot of them. They are small doggies, smaller than me. But this is a really big doggie that looks like it's made of trees. I whimper a little bit at how big it is. It's really scary, and I don't like big, scarry doggies.
My hoof touches another pully thing, and I lift it, but it kees getting away from me. Then I hear something fall. There is a tree bending over another hole with a rock on top of it. The bubble floats over the tree. I step on the rock and walk on the tree. Then the bubble takes me around more trees.
After a while, I hear a loud sound. Another doggy is howling, kinda like the doggies I play with sometimes do. But the big one scares me. I don't want to follow the bubble anymore. I want to go home and be with Mommy and Daddy. I don't want to be outside anymore.
"Come on, follow me." I shake my head no. I start to cry. I don't want to be around the big doggies. "You have to follow me if you want to be safe. Trust me. Everything is going to be okay."
I still don't want to go. But my glowy bubble friend said I will be safe if I follow. I go where the bubble tells me to. But I still don't move too good sometimes and I almost fall. But then I keep walking. There is another doggy sleeping. The bubble says to be quiet. So I be quiet while I walk near the scary doggy. When we get away from it, there are more doggies walking around. The bubble pushes me behind something.
"You need to hide until they are gone," the bubble says. I try to move but then it says, "No! Stay here." Then I stay sitting where I am. I hear the big doggies walking and making scary noises. I feel really sleepy, but I need to not sleep, or the doggies will hurt me. I want Daddy with me. He's nice and always keeps me safe from monsters and stuff.
"Now we can go." I stand up and walk with the bubble. We walk around until I can't hear the doggies anymore. There is another muffin on the ground, and I eat it. Then we go somewhere with lots more doggies. I don't want to go, but the bubble is floating ahead, so I have to go too. "We have to get through here in order to reach safety. Don't worry, the timberwolves are not going to hurt you, I promise."
I don't know some of the words the bubble said, but I keep walking. The bubble helped me lots of times, so she can help me with the doggies. I really like the bubble. She is very nice, and I want us to be friends forever. The doggies are just walking around and we go past one. There is another muffin on the ground, but I don't want it. My belly is full of the ones I already ate.
I always listen to the bubble. I hide when she says to. We go past more doggies. There are more doggies in front of us, but they are sleeping, and that is good. We keep walking until there are no more trees. I feel real happy that I don't have to be near anymore big doggies.
I walk up a big hill and I can see houses. There are lots and lots of houses, and lots of ponies. The sky is orange now, and I feel really really sleepy. I want to go home and see Mommy and Daddy and sleep with them. Maybe Mommy and Daddy are waiting for me near the houses.
The bubble floats near my face and says a lot of stuff before floating higher, and I lift my hooves towards her. Then she floats down and I grab her with my hooves. She doesn't pop or anything, and I hug her. "You're welcome, young filly." Then she floats up. But I don't want the glowy bubble to leave me alone. She's my new friend, and I want us to be friends forever. "I have to go. I cannot stay with you."
This makes me sad and I start crying. I can't talk very good, but I want her to stay with me. I want to take her to see Mommy and Daddy and Miss Sweetie. She can be friends with them too. "I'm very sorry, but I can't. I have to go now." I just cry more. I don't want to be by myself, it's too scary. "Some very nice ponies live here. You can make new friends. Don't be afraid of them."
I stop crying and look at the bubble. I watch as she floats up and then pops. I still feel sad for the bubble. I don't want to go to the houses alone. But she said ponies here are nice, so it's okay for me. I walk to a big thing with words on it. I can't really read it. Daddy said he will teach me how.
But I need to find him first. Then we can go back home and be with Mommy, and we can all be happy together. Then I won't have to be scared anymore, because Mommy and Daddy will not let anything happen to me. They are a good Mommy and Daddy. I love them both.
"Well, hello there, little one. What are you doing here?"
Author's Note
I don't know if this chapter is very good. I don't really know how to make it better. I sometimes have a difficult time trying to write at a lower level. But the next chapter won't be like that.
And did you ever wonder why the bubble was able to talk? You'll find out later.
It's hopeless.
I have lost my only daughter, the best thing that has ever happened in our lives. But now she is gone. I can't find her anywhere. And it's all her fault. After she tried to poison our daughter, why was I stupid enough to go to work and leave her alone with her... mother?
Ditzy Doo is not a retard; she has a mental disability. She isn't stupid; she just doesn't understand as much as others do. But you continue to call her "Derpy" just because of the mistakes she makes due to her disorder. I never would have thought you would stoop so low. How does it feel to be locked up again? After you killed our little sweetheart... I just... can't...
No... I will not let this get me down. I will find her, whether she's dead or not, I... will... find her. And then I'll...
I'll...
I don't know.
**********
I have finally arrived at Ponyville, the one place that I haven't checked. I had searched every forest down to the Everfree, but there was nothing. If she isn't here, then I might as well face the fact that my daughter, the most precious thing to me, the girl I loved more than life itself, was dead. She might as well have been mauled by a timberwolf of the forest... along with me. She didn't deserve this. Why would such a big difference between her and other children drive my wife to do such a horrible and unforgivable thing?
Head held low, and tears pouring out, I drag my hooves through the town in a hopeless search for my missing, if not dead daughter. I haven't slept for for a week straight. I'm surprised I haven't even passed out from exhaustion. If you could see all the dirt and stuff stuck to my coat, mane, and tail, you would know that I have spent all that time searching.
I haven't been eating much either. I can't, not when still have searching to do. I couldn't stop, I just couldn't. Not until I had checked every city, every forest, everywhere I could go. I am absolutely starving, after having only eaten when I was desperate for food.
I can't even think straight anymore. Nor can I fly straight. My head is spinning, I feel sick to my stomach, my voice has gone hoarse, my wings feel like they could snap off at any point, but what is keeping me going is hope for finding my dear, sweet Ditzy Doo. But even that is almost completely gone. I have stopped caring about anything else in life. All that matters to now is her. I need her, and she needs me.
Finally, I find the strength to lift my head and look in all directions. I am so tired, I can't see straight. But I see nothing that looks like Ditzy. My hooves feel heavy with every step as I walk towards a pony. I do not even care enough to give a physical description. I'd even ask Nightmare Moon herself, were she here now.
"Excuse me?" My voice has come to sound more like a whisper, but she seems to have heard as she turns around.
"Yes sir--Oh... my." I know she looks shocked at my own appearance. "Are you alright, sir?"
I groan in annoyance. "You know how stupid that question is? Of course I'm not!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm looking for someone. My daughter has been missing for a week. She's a pegasis filly. Her coat is grey, and her mane and tail, blond. She has yellow eyes that are a little... off. Please tell me you have seen her." I hadn't noticed how desperate I sound right now.
"I'm sorry, but I have been gone for the past two weeks. I haven't seen anyone new here. But seeing as this is an emergency, you might want to go to town hall and speak with the mayor. Anyone who finds a lost child goes straight to her." The mare points down the road towards a towering building.
"Okay, thanks." The mare nods as I slowly gallop to the building. I hope I can find her there. I need my daughter back, or I'll have nothing. When I reach town hall, I almost ram my face into the door. I open the door, only to be face to face with the mayor herself. Startled, the both of us take a step back. "Are you the mayor?" I ask as I catch my breath.
The mare nods. "Yes. You look exhausted. Are you alright?"
I quickly shake my head. "No, I'm not. I lost my daughter. She's a pegasis filly with grey fur, a yellow mane and tail, yellow eyes that are kind of crossed, and I was told that you were the one to go to."
"Well, yes. And I do believe I have seen a little foal of your description."
"You have?!" The hope that was so close to leaving me has returned, and it felt like I had an energy boost.
"Yes, and she--"
"Where is she?"
"Well, she--"
"Is she alright? Is she hurt?!" I'm leaning so far forward towards her, I'm practically standing on my front hooves. I have much more questions I would like to ask, but I only wanted to know the most important stuff.
"Can I talk, please?" Then I try to contain my excitement before she continues. "No, she isn't hurt. She is just fine. As for where she is, the pony who found her has taken her into her home while we have a search party looking for you. I'll have to call off the search later. But for now I'll just show you where her home is."
She leaves the building, and I follow right behind her. I can't believe it! My daughter is alive! She's alive! Alive! I have never been so happy to hear that word. Alive. I could practically cry right here, right now. After a week of searching, I have finally found the place where she actually IS! Now I know that I am just one step ahead of reuniting with my sweet daughter.
My little Ditzy Doo.
Author's Note
Now who could have offered Derpy their home while they search for her parents, I wonder?
I tried my best at what a father would do while looking for a lost child. I hope I did good.
Author's Note
I know it has been so long since I actually wrote the previous chapter. I thought it was about time I write a new one.
Reunited
I can't believe it.
I stand right outside the front door of the house Mayor Mare showed me to. My whole body trembles with excitement at the thought of seeing a certain filly waiting for me on the other side. I don't even notice when my hoof makes contact with the door. I wait impatiently until the door opens.
"Hello? Oh!" A dark-blue-coated mare with a black mane and a white sweater examines me from head to toe. Yeah, I have been too busy on my search to even notice how dirty and messy my mane and coat was. In fact, I didn't even care. I hadn't showered once since I started my search.
"Are you alright, sir? You look exhausted."
But I feel almost dead.
"I am looking for my daughter. I was told you have her."
Her eyes widen with surprise. "Oh. So you... you're the father of... uh..." Her face changes to an apologetic expression, "...Derpy, is it?
I feel slightly angered hearing that name again. But I know it's not her fault. My daughter had gotten used to that name, considering I was never around that often because of work. But I am still not okay with that. I calmly reply, "Her name is Ditzy Doo."
She looks down. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's fine. I know you didn't. But I really would like to see her right now, if you would please take me to her."
"Oh, yes. Come inside." She stepped aside, allowing me to enter before she closed the door. I took a look around. It has been years since I had been in a cloud home.
"I'm Starlight," the mare says as she leads me through the house. "What's your name?"
Still checking out the house, I answered, "Lightning Flash."
"Cool name," she said quietly. "I found your daughter walking out of the Everfree Forest without so much as a scratch. I don't know how she could have survived, but I assume she had been trying to find her way out all night." She stops in front of a flight of stairs leading to the second floor. "However, considering her mental state, which is something I have never seen in foals her age, I am concerned if she would have been able to recognize any dangers."
"If she is scared of something, she will try to avoid it," I reply. "Let's hope that's what kept her safe."
I can hear faint sounds of giggling. I recognize the voice. I just want to rush up the stairs and give my girl a really big hug. But my legs ache and can barely hold me up. A large grin spreads across my face as we head up the stairs. "I hope she didn't give you too much trouble."
The mare smiles back. "Oh, no, not at all. I loved every minute of it. I made some toys myself for her to play with."
"Well, thank you very much for bringing her into your home and taking care of her."
She turns towards me at the top of the stairs. "Oh, I would do that for anypony without a second thought."
I follow her to an open door, and there, rolling around on a large bed and laugh to herself, is Ditzy Doo. While she still doesn't notice me, I sneak towards her and pull her into a surprise hug. She gives me a startled look before fully realizing who is holding her.
"Daddy!"
I cannot explain how it felt to see her throw her hooves around me. As I rock her back and forth, I can feel a lump forming in my throat, and tears begging to be released. So I let out all my emotions. I let her know just how much I love her and missed her. I will never let that happen again.
I did it. I have finally completed my one and only task. I found what I set out for. A whole week with no sleep, little food, and barely any strength left have led me to this moment. I am back with my daughter again.
And I will not lose her again.
