To Love a Muffin

Derpy sat in the kitchen sipping a glass of orange juice and eating her cereal, Dinky sat opposite her doing the same. The two ate in silence. Yesterday, when Derpy had gone to the bank to deposit her pay which she had gotten in advance she had been surprised to find that there was already a large amount of money in her account. Apparently Amethyst had put enough money in her account to purchase the house in her name and leave enough for two weeks’ worth of shopping.

"When is Amethyst coming back?" asked Dinky as if reading Derpy's mind

Amethyst had been gone for more than a day and Derpy was starting to worry. "I don't know muffin, but you had better start getting ready for school"

"Okay" said Dinky before sliding off her chair and going to brush her teeth

Dinky was having a hard time getting used to brushing her teeth and sleeping alone, but after that sleepover at Scootaloo's she was determined to get used to it. When Dinky came back out Derpy gave her her recess, kissed her goodbye and sent her on her way. Derpy felt weird not going with her on her way to work but she had other things to do today. Derpy went back inside and was about to head upstairs when there was a knock at the door. Derpy opened the door and there stood Amethyst Star.

"Hi mom" said Amethyst nervously

"Hey Amy" said Derpy unsure how to react

"Mom, I've been thinking and... you were right I shouldn't have left you" said Amethyst

"Amy, no" began Derpy

"NO, I shouldn't have left you and Dinky with him, remember that night there was that fire, you and Dinky could have died!" sobbed Amethyst

"Amy, there's... something you should know about that night" said Derpy "I started that fire"

"What..." Amethyst was shocked "But you told the police that he came home drunk, he threw a bunch of bottles around and then he used his magic to attack you and it ignited the alcohol and..."

"When he came home I told him I was leaving; that I'd found another apartment and I was taking Dinky. He got really angry and started throwing bottles around, he said that if I tried to leave... he would find me and he would do... horrible things to Dinky" managed Derpy between sobs "It was then that I realized that I realized that he would never change and he would never let us go, so I told him what he wanted, he went to bed and I started that fire"

Amethyst gasped and covered mouth with her hoof, her mother had just confessed to arson and murder.

"So when I say that I can take care of myself and Dinky, you should believe me" stated Derpy

"I guess I should" said Amethyst before leaning in to hold her mom whose intermittent sobs had turned into a full stream of tears "And I'm sure that that Doctor guy will be different"

The two stood there in the doorway for a while until Derpy managed to collect herself.

"And I'll always be here for you; I bought a house in ponyville so if you ever need anything I'll be here" said Amethyst

The two exchanged smiles and Amethyst said "So when are you going to see him"

"Later today" said Derpy

"Oh, I should let you get ready" said Amethyst before turning and walking "Bye"

"Bye Amy" said Derpy to her daughter as she waved goodbye

Once Amethyst was out of sight Derpy closed the door, galloped across her yard, leapt over the fence separating her yard from the next and was at her friend's door in a matter of seconds. Derpy knocked on the door and a few moments later Bon Bon appeared wearing a pink apron with darker pink love hearts and a lot of frills.

"Hey Bon Bon, I have a date in a few hours and I need cheering/dressing up" said Derpy

"Do you need it bad enough to apologize for making me blush in front of Lyra" said Bon Bon narrowing her eyes

"I'm sure she enjoyed it, so are you going to let me in or am I going to have to say something about how that apron has more frills than is practice for anything but" Derpy was interrupted by a hoof in her mouth which was attached to a blushing Bon Bon

Derpy snickered under Bon Bon's hoof and eventually Bon Bon stepped aside "Well it seems that the cheering up part has already begun so you might as well come inside"

Bon Bon led Derpy her house and upstairs to her bedroom where they found a sleeping Lyra. Bon Bon promptly pushed Lyra of the bed.

"What was that for?" whined Lyra as she got to her hooves

"It's time to give Ditzy a MAKEOVER!" cheered Bon Bon

Both Derpy and Lyra giggled a bit at Bon Bon's excitement. The three mares went to Bon Bon's dressing table which had a large mirror and a lot of make up on it.

"How come I never see you wearing any of this stuff?" Derpy asked Bon Bon

"Because she's more than beautiful enough without it" said Lyra which caused Bon Bon to giggle

Derpy sat down in a chair that Lyra provided and Bon Bon began combing her hair.

"I'm glad you’re finally getting back out there Ditzy" said Lyra

"Yeah, after you dropped out of high school for Blunder I was so worried you would never find someone you deserve" said Bon Bon

"If what I've seen is to be believe then you're definitely dating someone who's worthy of you, I mean you are dating the hot new dentist in ponyville" said Lyra

"Given your... preference Lyra I wouldn't set too much in store by your taste in stallion" said Derpy which caused Lyra to roll her eyes "And Bon Bon you're meant to be cheering me up"

"Well, seeing as your favorite jokes seems to be the ones that are at my expense; do you remember who... I went to junior prom with" said Bon Bon hesitantly

Derpy burst out laughing as she remembered "I still can't believe you went with Thunderlane"

"I was trying to prove to my parents that I wasn't gay, although I think it had the opposite effect" said Bon Bon

"Everypony, including your parents I think, has heard the stories about Thunderlane" said Derpy

The three mares laughed for a while, even though Lyra wasn't sure exactly who Thunderlane was. They spent the next few hours doing everything they could think of to Derpy's mane, eyes and hooves and telling stories and jokes and laughing until it hurt. When Bon Bon and Lyra were finished they put a golden flower in Derpy's newly brushed and curled man and borrowed one of Lyra's yellow saddles. Once she was dressed Derpy stood in front of Bon Bon's full length mirror.

"You look beautiful" said Bon Bon

"A real knockout and you can trust my judgment when it comes to mares" said Lyra before giving Bon Bon a peck on the cheek

Derpy pulled them both in to a hug "Thanks guys"

"No problem Ditzy, but you had better not cry or your make up will run" said Bon Bon as Derpy let go of them "That's and order"

"Yes Ma'am General Bon Bon" said Derpy and Lyra in perfect harmony both pulling a mock salute at the same time before simultaneously bursting into laughter

"The mares in my life" muttered Bon Bon as she face hooved

Derpy said her goodbyes and left her friend's home, heading for the cafe she'd agreed to meet the Doctor at. She felt confident, pretty and completely ready for her date.

***
Doctor Hooves sat at the cafe sipping his tea.

'I hop she hasn't stood me up' thought the Doctor not really taking into account the fact that he arrived fairly early

"Is this seat taken?" asked a gorgeous grey mare in a yellow saddle that the Doctor had definitely never seen before

"Yes it is..." the Doctor trailed off as he realized that the incredible mare in front of him was his date

"Wow, I know Lyra said I was a knock out but I didn’t think she was being literal" said Derpy

"Ditzy, you look amazing" Doctor Hooves managed to stammer

"Thank you, have you ordered yet?" asked Derpy

As if on que a waiter appeared "May I take your orders"

Doctor Hooves waited politely for Derpy to order first (the truth is he was still trying to get his mouth to open without drooling) so she ordered a blueberry muffin and some earl grey (the only tea she'd heard of) and eventually he ordered some english muffins with marmite.

"So I hear from Minuette that you work at the Post Office" said Doctor Hooves

"Yeah, how do you know Minuette? I've known her since high school" asked Derpy

"We met while she was on vacation in..." said the Doctor before being interrupted

"You're the mysterious stallion from Trottingham Minuette told me about" gasped Derpy

"I... I suppose so" said Doctor Hooves wondering exactly how much Minuette might have told her "But enough about me I want to hear about you, what’s it like at the post office?"

"Wow, you are mysterious, the post office huh? It's fine, you meet a lot of ponies" said Derpy

"Sounds fun, how's Dinky doing?" asked the Doctor

"Dinky’s fine, she's really starting to grow up and I'm having to get used to..." Derpy suddenly stopped

"Ditzy are you okay?" asked Doctor Hooves suddenly concerned

"Dinky" gasped Derpy before she buried her head in her hooves "I forgot"

"You forgot what?" asked the Doctor now starting to get really worried

"The social worker is coming this afternoon" said Derpy fighting to hold back tears

"What are they going to do?" asked the Doctor

"I was meant to get a new house and twenty four hour care for Dinky and I got a new home and it's next to some old friends who could look after Dinky but... things didn't go as planned with Amethyst" said Derpy "I still haven't found a source of 'steady and sufficient income' so they're going to take Dinky away"

Derpy began to break down at the table.

"I have a stead and more than sufficient income" suggested Doctor Hooves

"What..." Derpy looked up, her make up beginning to run "No, I couldn't ask you to do that"

"I want to though" said the Doctor "I know we haven't know each other for very long but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you and I know that you’re the most beautiful mare I've ever met, so if you would give me the chance I would love take care of you and your daughter"

Derpy gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves; that was the most romantic thing she had ever heard and it had been directed at her! She nodded and the two left the table and headed off to Derpy's new house (Not before the Doctor left some bits at the table).

***
Just as Derpy and the Doctor arrived at her home they saw Autumn Snow walking down the street towards their house. The two rushed into the house and Derpy cleaned the running make up from her face. Derpy had just finished cleaning up when there was a knock on the door. She rushed down stairs and to the door where she hesitated and fixed up her perfectly done hair and adjusted her perfectly positioned saddle before opening the door.

"Hello Ms Doo" said Autumn Snow "Were you going somewhere?"

"No I just got back" said Derpy as she let Autumn into her house

"Doctor what are you doing here!" said Autumn as she entered before her mind connected the dots "Oh"

"Hello Autumn" greeted the Doctor

"You two know each other?" asked Derpy

"Yes I knew her cousin very well" said the Doctor

"Nurse Redheart" said Derpy

"Yes, how did you know" asked Autumn

"She delivered my first born and you look exactly like her, except for your wings and cutie mark" said Derpy

"Yes, many ponies are surprised that we are only cousins and not twins" said Autumn

"So Autumn I believe you had work to do" said the Doctor

"Yes well Ms Doo I can see that you have improved your living conditions, I talked to your land lord and everything has been paid so what have got in the ways of supervision and income?" asked Autumn

"Two of my friends live next door and they are rarely out of their house for more than an hour and as for the income" trailed off Derpy

"I shall be sharing my income with her" said Doctor Hooves

"Amongst other things" suggested Autumn "Well Ms Doo I can see you're in capable Hooves"

Derpy laughed a bit at the pun "So you mean I can keep Dinky"

"Yes" said Autumn before she was wrapped in a crushing hug by the ecstatic grey mare

The three ponies sat and talked for hours sipping cocoa until Autumn had to go, leaving Doctor Hooves and Derpy alone.

***
The two thought that they may finally get a moment together but just as Derpy was about to ask if the Doctor would like more cocoa she saw the clock.

"I'm a terrible mother" said Derpy

"What do you mean?" asked Doctor Hooves

"You see the time?" asked Derpy

"Yes" replied the Doctor

"School ended twenty minutes ago" stated Derpy

"Oh" said the Doctor

Derpy galloped to the door and pulled it open to find a small pale-purple filly standing on the other side with her hoof raised.

"Dinky! how did you get home?" spluttered Derpy

"I walked, how else?" said Dinky

"Alone!" gasped Derpy

Dinky walked into the house "I'm old enough to walk home myself, mom. Why's the dentist here?" asked Dinky pointing at the Doctor

"He... he is" stuttered Derpy

"Is he your coltfriend?" asked Dinky

"Dinky!" gasped Derpy shocked that she had grasped that so easily

"What I'm old enough to know about coltfriends and special some ponies" said Dinky

"Well aren't you the oldest and wisest pony in all the land" joked the Doctor

"But are you too old to play with your mom" said Derpy before she picked up Dinky and put her on her head

"HA HA you silly pony you have made a fatal mistake" cackled the crazed scientist Dinkelstien For now I have control of your BRAIN"

"NOOOOOO MY BRAIN" called the unfortunate victim of Dinkelstien's experiments

"Halt evil doer" called the Doctor

"HA HA why should I there is nothing you can do to stop me!" pronounced Dinkelstien

"I can release my secret weapon" threatened the Doctor before he swooped in and poached Dinkelstien from the head of her victim

"You fool once the connection is made it can be maintained remotely" gloated Dinkelstien

"But now you are vulnerable" said the Doctor before he unleashed his secret weapon; a wave of tickles!

Dinky squealed and laughed for a few minutes as the Doctor tickled her silly until finally he stopped and Dinkelstien proclaimed "I hath been vanquished"

No realized from her enslavement the unfortunate victim ran to her savior and embraced crying "Thank you brave doctor for saving me"

The two ponies hugged each other for a few moments before the felt a third body pressing against them. They both dropped a foreleg and pulled her in tight. Dinky smiled as she was pressed into the grey and brown fur. She'd got her wish.

She had her dad.