To Love a Muffin

Sunlight streamed in from the window and fell gently upon one little purple filly who was just starting to wake up. As Dinky's eyes fluttered open they fell upon her mom whom she was holding; the amber buttons she had for eyes, the grey cotton she had for fur, the darker grey stitching that held her together.
Wait, what?

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" screamed Dinky as she looked at the one foot tall ragdoll that was all that was left of her mother

"What's wrong muffin" called Derpy in a distant and muffled voice.

Was Dinky's mom talking to her from beyond the grave? At least that was what Dinky thought until she heard a crash and looked up to find her mom standing in the doorway, eyes darting around the room to what could have scared Dinky. Dinky looked again at the doll in her hooves and began to giggle; it was the doll her grandmother had made for her the Hearth's warming before last. Brave Sir Derpy was still unsure of from where the danger had come but the damsel in distress was no longer distressed so Brave Sir Derpy must have vanquished the thing.

"All right that's enough giggling, silly filly, it's time for breakfast" said Derpy

Dinky got up rubbed her eyes and trotted out to the kitchen with rag doll Derpy in her mouth. The two ponies sat on the chairs at the breakfast bar and (at the risk of stating the obvious) ate their breakfast. Looking up at the clock Derpy was happy to find that everything was going smoothly and they were on time.

"Time for school muffin" said Derpy

"Aaaaw, do I have to?" whined Dinky

"Yes Dinky" said Derpy giggling a bit at how foalish Dinky could be sometime

"But what if Diamond is there?" asked Dinky

"That reminds me" said Derpy biting her lip a little "I'm going to be working late today so I want you to see if you can sleep over with a friend tonight"

"Okay" said Dinky still a bit worried about how Diamond was going to be acting today

With that settled Derpy grabbed her mail mare's cap and herded Dinky out the door. The two ponies made their way across ponyville to
the (unnamed) school where Derpy kissed Dinky good bye and promised to be there after school to check on her.

***
With her mom gone Dinky walked into the school yard and quickly hid behind a bush. Two amber eyes darted from side to side, scanning the school yard for any sign of Diamond Tiara. Dinky started to feel that something was wrong when after five minutes there was still no sign of Diamond however her thoughts were interrupted by the school bell sounding. Hesitantly Dinky left the bush before breaking into a full gallop till she was in the school where she quickly rushed to her desk and sat down. Over the next few minutes the
rest of the class entered the room followed by Cheerilee, the rest of the class with the exception of one mean spirited pink pony.

"Hey Dinky" said Scootaloo as she sat down next to her friend

"Hey Scoot" replied Dinky still looking around

"What's wrong Dinky?" asked Scootaloo noticing her friend's worried movements

"Have you seen Diamond Tiara?" answered Dinky with a question

"Dude didn't you here? She had to go to the Hospital after yesterday" said Scootaloo

"What?!" said a shocked Dinky

"Yeah" started Scootaloo before being interrupted

"Girls, quiet" Ms Cheerilee called over the class

As Dinky looked forward to pay attention to the math lesson she noticed Silver Spoon glaring at her. She looked away once she knew Dinky had seen her but Dinky had gotten the message and was starting to feel really bad about bucking Diamond.

***
Derpy landed in front of the post office right on time to start the first of three shifts today. She entered the main room where there was already a line of ponies with packages too big to fit in the average mail collection bin awaiting postage and the tall brown stallion Post Haste standing behind the main desk. He tipped his cap as Derpy walked towards Mr Mailard's office with a friendly hello ditzy. She waved back while she remembered how she got that nick name; Mr Zippy had misheard her when she introduced herself and it just kind of stuck. Except with Mr Mailard, he still insisted on calling her Ms Doo.

"Ah, Ms Doo, you’re on time, good" said Mr Mailard as Derpy walked into his office. He was a rather short and round green earth stallion who often wore a black coat with a red scarf

"Hello Mr Mailard" returned Derpy

"Now, I noticed that put yourself down for the morning, midday and afternoon shifts today" Mr Mailard said as he looked down at the sheet of paper on his desk

"Yes sir" said Derpy throwing a mock salute

"Just making sure. um, Ms Doo is... is everything alright at home" asked Mr Mailard being uncharacteristically concerned

"Yes sir everything's fine sir" said Derpy with not much confidence

"It's just; with you leaving early yesterday and signing up for three shifts" Mr Mailard seemed very uneasy and was obvious he was really not used to comforting anyone "I just want you to know that the Ponyville Post Office is here for you"

As if Mr Mailard wasn't out of his depth already Derpy did something that he really wasn't ready for; she broke down and started crying right there in his office. Not being able to think of anything else to do Mr Mailard trotted around his desk to Derpy's side and put his foreleg around her.

"It's alright Ditzy, everything will be fine" said Mr Mailard before freezing. Did he just call an employee by her first name, no that wasn't her first name it was the nickname Mr Zippy gave her. This was a very strange morning.

"No it's not, the months over at the end of this weak and I left the stove on and the bath tub on hot so my bills are going to be really big this month and then I've got a backlog of rent on top of that and my wages aren't going to cover it and I don't have any food at home or any money to buy any" sobbed Derpy

"Well I think I can help with your wages, you see Mr Zippy called in sick today and I was going to give his route to Mr Haste but if you can do his and yours in one shift then I can pay you double this time" offered Mr Mailard

"Thanks Mr Mailard" said Derpy as she tried to wipe a few tears away "I guess I should get started if I'm going to fit in two routes in one shift"

"That's the attitude; work hard and you can do anything" said Mr Mailard glad that he seemed to have coped with the situation

Derpy got up and trotted out of Mr Mailard's office, heading to the mail room. She felt a little bit better for Mr Mailard's offer, she knew one shift of double pay wasn't going to pay for two month's rent and the enormous bills she was expecting but it was a nice gesture
which was unusual coming from Mr Mailard.

Derpy arrived at the mail room and picked up hers and Mr Zippy's mail bags and began filling each from the respective mail bin's which contained all the letters and small packages that were to be delivered on their respective mail routes. Burdened by two bags full of mail Derpy made her way to the front door of the Post Office but stopped when she heard her name.

"Yes, I'm looking for a Ms Derpy Doo" said a white pegasus mare with a soft pink main that was tied back in a ponytail and a love heart cutie mark who was at the front of the line for the main desk.

"That's her there" said Post Haste pointing a hoof in Derpy's direction

The white mare walked over to Derpy and introduced herself.

"Hello Ms Doo I am Autumn Snow form Equestrian Social Services" said Autumn Snow

"Oh sweet Celestia no" gasped Derpy while simultaneously thinking about how the next time she sees Cheerilee she's going to buck her through a wall

"I would like to set up an apointment to talk to you and see your home and living conditions" said Autumn Snow in a tone that told Derpy that she had had to say that to a lot of mothers and she knew none of them ever took it well and instead of becoming imune to their outrage she was still sympathetic

"I should be home at five" Derpy said in a monotone voice before flying out the door as fast as she could

***
The school bell rang to signal recess and all the students began to file out into the school yard however on grey filly with a silver mane seemed especially happy to get out of their as fast as she could.

"What's up with Silver" Dinky asked Scootaloo

"I think she's avoiding you" suggested Scootaloo

"Why?" asked dinky

"Because you just put her best friend in hospital for a conversation that she started" said Scootaloo as if she was stateing the obvious

"Oh yeah" said Dinky looking down at her hooves "I should probably talk to her"

"NO, are you crazy" said Scootaloo in surprise

"I'm going to go talk to her" said Dinky more sternly before walking to where Silver Spoon was sitting

"You're funeral" muttered Scootaloo before following

"Hey Silver" said Dinky nervously when she got near enough

"Just leave me alone" grumbled Silver Spoon

"Hey you started it" retorted Dinky

"Yeah but we didn't hurt anypony. Why did you have to put my only friend in the hospital, now I have to eat my lunch alone like a loser!"
half screamed Silver Spoon as tears of rage (and a bit of loneliness) began to fill her eyes

"I just... I" stuttered a rather flustered Dinky who had not expected a sudden display of emotions from Silver

"Just leave me alone" said Silver before turning her head towards her recess

Dinky and Scootaloo left her alone and walked to their usual spot, much to the relief of Cheerilee who had been watching the whole thing and been getting ready to intervene. Dinky and Scootaloo sat down and Scootaloo took out her recess, the moment she did however Dinky's stomach began rumbling. Scootaloo looked at Dinky who was studying an apparently very interesting blade of grass and seemed oblivious to the sounds being emitted by her tummy.

"Ugh fine" Scootaloo groaned moving her lunchbox closer to Dinky who took a portion from it (probably more than was polite) "Why don't you bring your own recess?"

Dinky merely shrugged her shoulders and continued to eat her new recess "Hey Scoot"

"Yeah?" replied Scootaloo

"Would it be alright if we had a sleep over tonight?" asked Dinky

"Yeah that'd be awesome, you ever been to a sleepover before?" asked Scootaloo

"Nope" answered Dinky

"Well then this is going to be extra awesome for you" cheered Scootaloo

As the two fillies began discussing everything they were going to do that night (a list that would soon reach the point where it would take several weeks of sleep overs to complete) the school bell rang and they went back to class.

***
Derpy landed outside the Post office and stepped inside; as she looked up at the clock in the main room she saw that it was two minutes till the end of the morning shift. She proudly carried the two empty mail bags the mail room then punched her time card and walked into Mr Mailard's office head held high.

"Ah, you made it" smiled Mr Mailard as Derpy walked into his office

"Yes Sir" said Derpy

"Well then for the midday shift I'd like you to take the desk" said Mr Mailard

"Yes Sir" repeated Derpy before heading to the main room and relieving Post Haste of his position and taking his place

In a stark contrast to how it was this morning the post office was now empty. It was going to be a long shift.

***
The school bells rang again this time signaling the end of school and a horde of small ponies prisoners escaped their day long imprisonment and fled to various hideouts scattered around the village, many plotted and schemed new ways to prevent their larger goalers from sending them back. Two small fillies, one pale purple and one orange, instead walked toward a cute grey mare in a blue cap who was lugging one very large bag on her back.

"Hi mom" Dinky called as she rushed to her mom's side

"Hi Ms Doo" greeted Scootaloo

"Hi muffin, hi Scootaloo" returned Derpy "Dinky did you sort everything out?"

"Yeah me and Scootaloo are really excited for our sleepover" said Dinky who was practically exploding from excitement just thinking about it.

With that Derpy said goodbye to Dinky and Scootaloo and returned to her afternoon shift of collecting all the mail but in the mail collection bins around ponyville before taking them back to the Post Office and sorting them by mail route for tomorrow’s delivery. While her mom flew off Dinky went with Scootaloo in the other direction towards Scoot's house.

"So, you ready for a night of extreme awesomeness, muffin?" teased Scootaloo

"Ugh" groaned Dinky

"Wow calm down bruiser" Scootaloo continued to tease but was silenced by a stern look from Dinky

The two fillies walked for a while, talking and laughing, until they finally reached Scootaloo's house. Scootaloo knocked on the door and soon it was opened by Scootaloo's mom.

"Hi sweetie, hello Dinky Doo" welcomed Scootaloo's mom

"Hey mom is it ok if Dinky sleeps over tonight?" asked Scootaloo

"What does her mother say" Scoot's mom asked with a suspicious look

"She suggested it" chirped Dinky

"Well all right then" said Scoot's mom as she led the two fillies in the house

"Yes, we're going to have the MOST EXTREMELY AWSOME SLEEP OVER EVER" Scootaloo cheered loudly

"I hope that by 'extremely awesome' you mean it will involve board games, cocoa and actually sleeping" said Scoot's mom

"AAAAAAAAWWWW MOOOOOOOOOOM!" Scootaloo whined loudly

Dinky meanwhile thought that that was a lot more realistic than what she and Scoot had planned, after all where were they going to get a hang glider? The two went up to Scootaloo's room eagerly awaiting the newly promised cookies and cocoa. When they got there Dinky was shocked by exactly how much Rainbow Dash memorabilia Scootaloo had, especially seeing as nopony makes any. Next Dinky was shocked by how small the bed was.

"How do you and your mom fit onto that bed?" asked Dinky interrupting a long winded exposé on the awesomeness of Rainbow Dash

"What? I don't sleep in the same bad as my mom, that's weird" said Scootaloo

"Oh right" said Dinky

Scootaloo returned to her description of THE AWSOME AND RADICAL RAINBOW DASH. Dinky didn't mind; she too thought that Rainbow Dash was pretty awesome after all she spread rainbows wherever she went and rainbows are really pretty.

***
Derpy picked up the last letter of the day.

"Ok letter, TALK" Inspector Doo yelled at the perp

The letter seemed disinclined to respond

"Don't feel like talking huh?" asked Inspector Doo

The letter maintained its silence

"Vell ve 'ave vays of making you talk vezer zou vant to or not!" proclaimed Inspector Doo

The Inspector then executed the most tried and true interrogation method ever devised for extracting the address from a letter; she t
urned the letter over and read it. Derpy could have face hoofed however evidently her hoof missed the 'could have' bit. The address on the letter was the same as the return to sender address.

"Some ponies" muttered Derpy as she put the letter on the postage stack that it's 'address' claimed it should go.

With her work done Derpy got up and headed to the main room to clock out. Derpy put in her card and briefly thought about going home to her little filly, then she remembered that Dinky was at Scootaloo's house and she had no food at home AND that social services mare was waiting for her. Derpy hung her head as she walked to Mr Mailard's office however once she was inside she was surprised to see both Post Hast and Mr Mailard waiting for her, smiling.

"Uh, what's going on" asked a very confused Derpy

"Well we know you're going through some tough times right now so" began Post Haste

"We pooled what we could" finished Mr Mailard as he placed a bag on the desk, a bag that jingled when it moved

Derpy looked in the bag; there must have been fifty bits in there!

"Thanks" Derpy said before leaping on Post and giving him a huge hug, then she turned to give Mr Mailard the same but instead offered her hoof and he shook it "Thanks a lot guys"

"No problem Ditzy" said Post

Feeling a bit better Derpy left the Post Office and headed towards the market. For the first minute of the journey Derpy was sure she was being followed but it turns out she just wasn't used to the sound of bits jangling in her pocket. At first Derpy felt the urge to just run to Applejack's cart and buy as many apples as possible but thought better of it. Instead she began looking from stall to stall for the cheapest food she could get. While she was staring at the prices she didn’t watch where she was going and ended up walking straight into a brown stallion.

"Sorry Mister" Derpy began

"Oh no it was completely my fault, oh my" the chestnut stallion with a brown mane and a time turner cutie mark started before he saw
Derpy's eyes

'Here it comes' thought Derpy

"You do have the most beautiful eyes" said the mysterious Stallion

Derpy just sat dumbstruck for a minute; she had heard a lot about her eyes over the years but never that they were beautiful.

"Well I'm sorry for knocking you over but I really do have to go" said the still unidentified stallion

"Wait, what's your name" Derpy called after the moving stallion

"It's Doctor Hooves" the stallion called back

Derpy continued to sit there for a bit before she began to the ink that sitting in the middle of a busy market place wasn't the best idea and she continued with her shopping. In the end she just bought enough to have an apple for dinner and make herself and Dinky a salad tomorrow. Although she felt less happy having only bought so little, it did feel nice to walk away with a few bits left.

As Derpy was nearing her home she flew up a bit to see the town clock; 5:09. Derpy hung her head again as she walked the last few hundred meters, it felt like she was walking to her doom. Derpy arrived at the building that she lived in and to her surprise there was nopony standing outside. Her hope was short lived as she found Autumn Snow standing inside the building talking her land lord.

"Ah Ms Doo you're here, we can get started" said Autumn in a tone full of false cheer that again told Derpy that this mare was definitely not desensitized to the pain of those she had to investigate

"I guess" said Derpy, still unsure if she should trust her

"I'll start by asking where is Dinky?" asked Autumn

"She's staying at a friend's" explained Derpy as she went up the stairs

"I see" said Autumn as she followed Derpy up to her apartment "I was talking with your land lord and is says you're behind on your rent"

"I'm working extra shifts; I'll have paid at the end of the month" said Derpy

"You're working extra shifts, is that why Dinky is staying at a friend's?" asked Autumn

"Yes" answered Derpy, she could have lied but she didn't feel like she should for some reason

The two pegasi stepped into the bare apartment and the first thought through Autumn's head was; it’s not that bad. Derpy walked to the kitchen and put her groceries in the fridge while Autumn peered over her shoulder at the empty fridge.

"How long have you and Dinky lived here" asked Autumn as Derpy stepped out from the kitchen

"Four years" replied Derpy

"And before that?" queried Autumn

"An apartment in western ponyville" answered Derpy

"That was before you and your husband separated isn't it?" asked Autumn is a very apologetic tone

Derpy stiffened before giving an answer that seemed to not want to leave her throat "Yes"

"And what are the sleeping arrangements?" asked Autumn seeming to be trying to move on as quickly as possible

Derpy led her to their bedroom and watched as Autumn looked around the room.

"So you both sleep in this bed" asked Autumn

The white mare waited a moment for an answer but when it became clear that none was forthcoming she looked over at Derpy who was staring wide-eyed at a ragdoll on the bed.

"Ms Doo?" asked a concerned Autumn Snow

"Dinky" breathed Derpy

"What was that?" asked Autumn having not caught what Derpy said

Before Autumn could press for an answer any further Derpy had darted out of the room. The social worker stood bemused for a moment before Derpy ran back in carrying a foals saddle bags that were emblazoned with bubble wand cutie marks. Derpy sprung onto the bed and put a couple of objects into the saddle bags before bolting out the room. This time Autumn Snow followed her out the bedroom and out the apartment, although she was courteous enough to close the door behind herself, and outside. Once outside Autumn tried to call out and ask Derpy what she was doing but before she could Derpy had taken wing so Autumn did the same and followed her over ponyville. The two eventually set down outside a house on the other side of ponyville and Derpy trotted up to the door and knocked several times. After a few moments Scootaloo's mom opened the door.

"Oh, hello Ms Doo" greeted Scoot's mom

"Hello" panted Derpy

"What brings you here?" asked Scoot's mom politely

Derpy dropped the foal's saddle bags on the ground and exchanged knowing looks. She could have said 'I'm so sorry for disturbing you but this is my daughter's first sleepover and I was worrying about her so I packed her a little something something' but they were both moms and moms know, they just know.

"Mom!" exclaimed Dinky as she caught sight of her mom from the living room and ran towards her

"Hi muffin, are you having fun?" asked Derpy

"Yeah we're having loads of fun!" exclaimed an ecstatic Dinky

"Hope you're not getting into any trouble" smiled Derpy

"Oh no, she's been quite the little angel" said Scoot's mom

"Well I just wanted to drop this off, I'll get out of your mane now" said Derpy as she began to leave

"Who's that?" asked Dinky pointing at the newly revealed white pegasus

"Uuuuuh" stammered Derpy who hadn't noticed that Autumn had followed her

"I'm Autumn Snow" provided Autumn Snow

"It doesn't snow in Autumn" piped up Scootaloo who had come to see what all the fuss was about

"It did the day I was born and my parents thought it was so special the named Autumn Snow" explained Autumn

"Anyway we should get going" said Derpy

"Bye mom" called Dinky

"Bye muffin" Derpy called back

The two pegasi flew back to Derpy's apartment, a little slower this time. When they were back in the apartment Derpy sat on the floor while Autumn stood unsure of what to do. Then for the second time that day Derpy broke down and started crying. Autumn was about to try and comfort Derpy but before she could Derpy threw herself at Autumn's hooves.

"PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY LITTLE MUFFIN AWAY!!" cried Derpy, her tears starting to soak Autumn's fur

"Ms Doo" said Autumn as she tried to gather herself

"PLEASE!!" sobbed Derpy "please, I know I'm probably the most pathetic excuse for a mother you've ever seen but, please don't"

"Ms Doo you are far from the worst excuse for a mother I've ever seen" said Autumn sternly

"I... I am" sniffled Derpy

"Once in Canterlot I investigated a mare who was looking after three foals. When I asked where she lived she claimed that they lived in
Canterlot Castle" said Autumn

Derpy giggled a bit at that but stopped when she saw that Autumn did not look very jovial.

"She was still convinced she lived there when the Royal Guards dragged her off for attempted illegal entrance of the Princess' personal
quarters" said Autumn

Derpy sat up and just looked at Autumn.

"It turns out that two of the foals weren't even hers and that they had all been starving on the street for over a week" said Autumn

Derpy had no idea what to make of that so she just waited for Autumn to continue.

"Ms Doo you've shown me tonight that you are a very dedicated mother but your living conditions cannot be ignored" said Autumn,
Derpy just continued to watch her maybe with a glimmer of hope in her eyes "You have until the end of the week and thus the month to secure a stable source of sufficient income, to pay your all of your rent and bills and to find somepony who can ensure that between the two of you Dinky can have around the clock supervision"

When Autumn had finished Derpy still just sat there. She had four days to do all that.

"Do you think you can do that Ms Doo?" asked Autumn in a slightly concerned tone

"Yes" said Derpy surprising even herself that it wasn't a lie

***
Dinky and Scootaloo sat down at the dinner table where Scootaloo's mom had laid out what to Dinky was practically a feast. Scootaloo simply said something about her mom not even making too much of an effort for guests to which her mom replied that it was short notice. They were all digging into the meal in silence when Scoot's mom decided to try and start some conversation.

"So Dinky I know your mother works at the Postal Office but what does your father do?" asked Scoot's mom

"I don't know" answered Dinky

"What do you mean you don't know? Surely you pay some attention to your father?" asked Scoot's mom

"How can I, I've never met him" replied Dinky

"Oh... Oh, I'm so sorry I shouldn't have pressed" apologized Scootaloo's mom

The table once again descended into silence, save for the scraping of cutlery and munching of vegies, except now the silence was more awkward.

"My dad is a manager at the weather factory in Cloudsdale" put in Scootaloo

"So he's in charge of the ponies who make rainbows?" asked Dinky

"Yeah but for some reason he won't tell me how they make them and whenever I bring it up he just looks really sad and tells me to improve my flying" said Scootaloo

The two fillies started talking about rainbows and 'somehow' the conversation turned into on about Rainbow Dash and it lasted until the end of dinner. Once they had finished Scoot's mom began clearing the table and told Scoot to take Dinky and go take a bath and get ready for bed. The two fillies went upstairs and into the bathroom where Scootaloo jumped (with the help of her wings) into the tub and turned on the water. Dinky stood back from the tub and bit her lip a bit.

"What's wrong Dinky?" asked Scootaloo

"I've never taken a bath without my mom before" muttered Dinky

Scootaloo wanted to say 'really, that's weird' but something in how Dinky was pawing at the floor made her instead say "Don't worry I'm here" instead.

Dinky smiled a bit before climbing (with the help of Scootaloo) into the tub. While Dinky was still nervous at first, with the help of some playful splashing from Scootaloo this bath time was nearly as fun as all the others.

After spending what was unanimously deemed enough time in the tub Dinky and Scootaloo pulled the plug and climbed out. once they were out Scootaloo went to the basin and pulled the step ladder out so she and Dinky could reach the top. once the had scaled the small mountain Scootaloo the intrepid explorer reached into the cabinet of mystery and pulled from it two artifacts knows as Scootaloo's toothbrush and the emergency guest toothbrush. The Explorer handed the later artifact to her companion.

"What's this?" asked Dinky

"What!?" exclaimed an utterly shocked Scootaloo

"What?" asked a now confused Dinky

"Haven't you ever brushed your teeth before?" asked Scootaloo in disbelief

"I guess not" answered Dinky

"MOOOOOOOM!!" yelled Scootaloo

"What is it dear?" asked Scoot's mom a few moments later when she arrived at the doorway

"How come I've always had to brush my teeth and Dinky's never had to?" whined Scootaloo

"You have never brushed your teeth Dinky?" asked a slightly shocked Scootaloo's mom

"No" answered Dinky

"Well then, Scootaloo show Dinky how to brush her teeth" said Scoot's mom

"But moooooooom" whined Scootaloo

"No buts young filly, I am going to come back up to kiss you good night and if your breath is not minty fresh by the time I do then you will be grounded for a weak" threatened Scootaloo's mom

Scootaloo groaned and the two fillies brushed their teeth. Dinky didn't like it very much the toothpaste tasted horrible but Scootaloo said she wasn't supposed to eat it. When they finished they spat into the basin (that was both their favorite parts) and went to Scoot's room. After a few minutes of the two girls talking Scootaloo's mom reappeared and kissed Scootaloo goodnight and then checked her breath. She then said goodnight to Dinky who was sleeping on an inflatable mattress (Scootaloo thought it was unfair that she didn't check her breath) before leaving them alone. Scootaloo and Dinky exchanged their goodnights before laying down and trying to get to sleep. It was at that moment that Dinky was suddenly gripped with fear; she'd left them at home. Dinky started panicking before she remembered that her mom had dropped off her saddle bags earlier. Dinky ran to the saddle bags which she'd left in the corner of the room and took out the contents. Dinky sighed in relief and went back to her temporary bed holding her ragdoll Derpy. When she laid back down she put the framed photo of herself, Derpy and her sister Amy next to her pillow. Then she looked at the note she'd found in the bags and read it by the light from Scootaloo's night light.

I love you muffin

-Mom XOXO
Dinky held the note and her doll close to her and drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.