To Love a Muffin

Many months later
Dinky opened her eyes and looked up at the window in her room to see a thick pile of snow and the window sill. Today was the day. Dinky burst from her bed and ran down the hall. She opened the door to her mom and dad's room and leapt onto their bed.

"IT'S HEARTH'S WARMING! IT'S HEARTH'S WARMING" cheered Dinky loudly as she bounced up and down on her parent's bed
Derpy and the Doctor awoke with a start to find the most adorable filly in Equestria bouncing on their bed wearing the biggest smile she could manage and with sparkles in her eyes.

"Yes I suppose it is" said the Doctor as he crawled out of bed

"And why does that make you so happy, do you think you’re getting presents?" asked Derpy with a sly grin

"I'm excited because I get to spend the whole day with my family" said Dinky before she realized exactly what her mom had just said and she stopped bouncing "I am getting presents aren't I"

Dinky pouted and put on the largest pair of puppy eyes she could.

"Oh no, not the stare" gasped Derpy before grasping at her heart with her hooves "HHNNNNNNNNNNNG"

"Now show me the presents" said Dinky

"That's enough" said the Doctor as he picked Dinky up "You shall receive an as yet unspecified number of presents later"

"Hey unspecified number includes zero" whined Dinky

"Really" pretend gasped the Doctor

The Doctor took Dinky down stairs and after a few minutes Derpy followed them down. Wreathes of holly and reals of tinsel hung from the walls and seasonal pillows and blankets on the couch and chairs.

Derpy smiled as she saw Dinky hopping in circles around the Doctor repeating "Tell me, tell me, tell me" while the Doctor rubbed his eyes and yawned

Derpy walked toward the door and picked her winter mail mare's cap with ear flaps and her scarf which was grey and yellow with poufy muffin shaped poms on the end. Derpy suddenly felt a weight on her leg and looked down to find Dinky holding on to her and the Doctor standing next to her.

"Why do you have to go?" asked Dinky

As it turns out the wages of one of two dentists in a small village didn't go too far in a family of three so Derpy still needed to do some extra work at the post office every now and then and working the Hearth's warming shift was a one hour job that paid triple time.
Derpy didn't want to tell Dinky all that so instead she just said "I have to"

"Can I come" begged Dinky "Pleeeeeeeeeeeease"

"Fine, but put some warm clothes on" said Derpy after getting a shrug from the Doctor

"Yaaaaaay" cheered Dinky before running to her room to get dressed

"Well I guess I'll see you in an hour" said Doctor Hooves "Mrs Hooves"

Derpy let out a small giggle; they had been married two months but Derpy still got all tingly inside whenever someone called her Mrs Derpy Hooves "You'll be alright for an hour?"

"Besides the fact that the world is that much less wonderful when I'm not with you I think I'll live" said the Doctor

The Doctor leaned in and kissed his wife. A few moment later Dinky came galloping down the stairs with purple boots and a purple snow cape on, a purple and grey scarf with yellow poms on the end and a beanie of the same colors.

"Ready" pronounced Dinky

"You be good now" said the Doctor as he kissed Dinky on the forehead

Derpy kneeled down to let Dinky onto her back and once she was in place they stepped out into the world. Ponyville was beautiful in the winter in the winter; the snow on the houses made them look like sugar coated gingerbread houses and the glimmering snow falling from the sky gave it a dream like quality.

"Are you ready Muffin?" asked Derpy

"Yeah" answered Dinky

Dinky wrapped her forelegs around her mom's neck and nestled her head into her mom's mane. Derpy raised her wings and brought them down as she leapt into the air and took flight. Dinky loved flying with her mom; she saw the world from high up in the air, she could feel the wind rushing through her hair, she could smell the scent of muffins in her mom's hair and feel her mom’s heart beating beneath her. Derpy circled ponyville for a few minutes, enjoying the calm serenity of an empty sky and the comforting warmth of Dinky on her back.

Derpy eventually set down in front of the Post Office and produced a key from under her cap. Once they were inside Derpy picked up the mail bag that had been packed for her and went back outside. Derpy looked at the first letter inside to see where she was going and was surprised to find it was addressed to her, It read:

Dear Ditzy

Happy Hearth's Warming and many happy returns

-Post Haste, Mr Zippy, Mr Mailard

Derpy smiled and tucked the letter under her cap, it was soon joined by the key once Derpy had locked up. Derpy checked the address of the next letter and once Dinky was safely on her back they set off.

***
Golden Harvest was disturbed from her sleep by a knock on the door. She walked to the door and opened it to find Derpy Hooves the mail mare standing in front of her and lying on top of her cap was the little filly Dinky Hooves in her beanie and boots.

"HAPPY HEARTH'S WARMING!" cheered Dinky

"D’aaaaaw" said Golden before taking the offered letter "Thanks Ditzy and congratulations on the new husband"

The two Hooves’ waved goodbye and set off again. The rest of the mail route went very similarly until eventually they were done.

"Hey mom, can I ride in the mailbag?" asked Dinky

"Sure little muffin" said Derpy so Dinky promptly dropped from Derpy's back into the open mailbag

Dinky landed with a small squeak that caused Derpy to giggle and the two set off for home.

***
"MAIL CALL" came a call from the door

Doctor Hooves ran from his prone position on the couch and opened the door.

"Mail call sir, one adorable muffin" said Derpy as she scooped Dinky out of her bag.

"I'm a muffin, RAAAAR" roared the pony eating muffin Dinky Hooves

The three ponies began to laugh as they went inside.

"So, What do you want to do now?" Derpy asked Dinky

"MUFFIN TIME" cheered Dinky

Dinky took off her cape, boots and her beanie and put them upstairs before joining her parents in the kitchen. The Doctor began greasing the pan while Dinky fetched ingredients and Derpy began putting them together to make the batter. Soon enough they had a baker's dozen muffins in the oven. With the muffins baking the three of them went back into the lounge.

"Hey mom, what's your favorite kind of muffin?" asked Dinky as she settled on the couch

"You" said Derpy as she booped Dinky on the nose, which caused her to giggle, and tucked her under her wing.

Any further conversation was interrupted by a knock from the door. The Doctor went and answered the door.

"Amethyst it's good to see you" greeted the Doctor

"It's nice to see you too" replied Amethyst

Amethyst walked in hovering a presents behind her.

"PRESENTS!" screamed Dinky as a huge smile broke out on her face

"Well it looks like someone remembered" said Derpy

Derpy and the Doctor disappeared up the stairs for a few minutes leaving Amethyst alone with Dinky.

"Hi Amy" greeted Dinky

"Hey Dinky" returned Amethyst pulling Dinky into a hug "How have you been?"

"I'm great" cheered Dinky "Look what I can do"

Dinky turned to the couch and began to focus as hard as she could and after a few seconds the couch was enveloped in an amber field and lifted a few hooves of the floor. It only lasted for a few moments though.

"Did you see? Did you see?" asked Dinky

"Yeah that was amazing!" cheered Amethyst as she clapped her hooves together

Derpy and the Doctor returned each laden with a few presents.

"So who wants to open theirs first?" asked the Doctor

"I DO, I DO" called Dinky

"Now Dinky, I think we should let Amethyst go first, she is our guest" said Derpy

Dinky pouted while Derpy and the Doctor each pushed a present towards Amethyst. She picked up Derpy's one first and found inside picture of Derpy with Amethyst when she was just a filly as the came to the finish of a roller coaster at a fair they'd gone to for Amy's sixth birthday. Next she picked up the one from the Doctor; it was a scrap book with pictures from locations all over Equestria.

"I heard you like to travel and I've been to a few places" said the Doctor

"Thanks... Dad" said Amethyst

There was a moment of total silence which was broken by Dinky asking "Can I open mine now"

"Sure" sighed Derpy

Three presents were pushed towards Dinky and she opened them to find:

From the Doctor: A new set of saddle bags

From Derpy: a hoof knitted scarf

From Amethyst: a crystal version of Dinky's cutie mark

Dinky immediately swapped her scarf for her new one and began staring and her crystal statue. She held it up in front of her face so she could see the fire in the hearth through it.

"Cool" whispered Dinky

Then Mr and Mrs Hooves exchanged their gifts. He got her a set of fluffy yellow socks and she got him coat with his cutie mark on the hem. As the happy couple was about to kiss they were interrupted by a ringing from the kitchen.

"THE MUFFINS" cheered Dinky

Derpy got up and in a few moments returned with a bowl full of muffins and a monopony box and there was much rejoicing. The Hooves family played for hours eventually Amethyst won.

"I am the richest pony in all of Equestria" proclaimed Amethyst

"Dad why did you sell her Canterlot Castle?" whined Dinky

"I needed the money" said Doctor Hooves

"At least you came second" said Derpy who had been the bank

"I barely made it ten trips around the board" said the Doctor

"Well since you won here's the last muffin" said Derpy holding the last muffin

Amethyst picked it up with her magic and split it in half "You want some Dinky?"

The question had barely left Amethyst's lips when one part of the muffin had disappeared into the black hole that was Dinky's mouth.

"All right Dinky it's getting late, time for bed" said Derpy

"Aaaaw" whined Dinky

"No argument" said Derpy as she picked up Dinky

They went upstairs and entered Dinky's room where Derpy set Dinky down on her bed and tucked her in.

"Hey mom" said Dinky

"Yes muffin" said Derpy

"You know how dad used to hit you" said Dinky

Derpy was completely thrown by the question and couldn't muster any kind of response.

"Why didn't you ever hit him back?" asked Dinky

Derpy took a moment to think about the question before responding with "Sometimes ponies just... don't do what other ponies think it would be natural for them to do, I just never thought about it"

"That night that Amethyst hit you, you said she was just like dad" said Dinky "Were you worried that I was like dad when it hit Diamond at school?"

"No, no I didn't" assured Derpy

"How?" asked Dinky

"You're cutie mark; it's just like mine except with a bubble wand as well to show that you're magic" said Derpy as she hugged Dinky "You are going to grow up to be a wonderful, kind and considerate mare and you're going to do great things"

"How do you know?" said Dinky

"Because you're my little muffin and I will always be here for you to make sure you turn out alright" said Derpy

Dinky's eyes began to close, she said "I don't want to grow up if it means I'll end up hurting you"

Derpy just cradled Dinky's head and said "Hush now, time for sleep" as she stroked her mane and began to tear up

"I love you mom" said Dinky

"I love you too Dinky" said Derpy

Dinky drifted off to sleep so Derpy picked up her doll from the dresser and even in her sleep Dinky grabbed it and held it tight. No matter how much she would grow up she would always be Derpy's little muffin.

***
"So, dad, how have things been?" asked Amethyst as Derpy took Dinky up to bed

"Things have been... wonderful" said the Doctor as he stroked the edge of his new coat

"Mom seems really happy" said Amethyst

"Yeah, that photo must have meant a lot to your mother, what's it about?" asked the Doctor

"That day wasn't really important, she was just reminding me that once upon a time we could just be together and things would feel better" said Amethyst "She's just saying that she still loves me"

"That's good, so why do you seem so glum?" asked the Doctor

"It's just... never mind" said Amethyst

"You can talk to me Amethyst, like it or not I am your father now, I want to be able to talk to you" pleaded the Doctor

"It's just, why does Dinky get the nice home, happy mom and caring dad, what did I do to not deserve it?" sobbed Amethyst

"Sometimes life just deals you a bad hoof, but I want you to know I meant it when I said that I was your father now, if you ever need me I'll be here for you and I know for a fact that part of the reason that your mother is so happy is because you've been around" said the Doctor

"Really?" said Amethyst

"You're her daughter too and no matter what you'll always be welcome here and we'll always be your family" said the Doctor

Amethyst walked over to were the Doctor was sitting and gave him a hug "Thanks dad"

***
Derpy walked down the stairs to find her husband and her daughter in a tearful hug.

"Now this is the best Hearth's Warming present I've ever gotten" said Derpy

Amethyst and the Doctor looked up and smiled at Derpy.

"All right time for bed" said Derpy

"Where am I sleeping?" asked Amethyst

"Well you could either sleep in the guest bedroom or you could sleep in the bed I set up in Dinky's room" offered Derpy

"Dinky's room" said Amethyst

Derpy smiled and the two of the went into to Dinky's room. They both stopped to watch Dinky sleep for a moment, captivated by the adorableness of a sleeping smiling filly holding on to her doll like her life depended on it.

Amethyst climbed into the collapsible bed but before she went to sleep she asked her mom with a sheepish grin "Could you, ummm" as she looked over at Dinky

Derpy was confused for a moment but then the understanding dawned on her and she smiled. She stood beside the bed and tucked Amethyst in before giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"I love you Amy" said Derpy

Derpy was about to stand up when she was pulled back into a crushing hug "I love you too mom" said Amethyst

Derpy smiled and hugged her daughter back. When the two finally let go and said their goodnights Derpy left the room, closing the door quietly. As Derpy turned around she found the Doctor standing by her smiling warmly.

"That was sweet" said the Doctor

"I guess Hearth's Warming brings out the foals in us all" said Derpy as she pecked the Doctor on the cheek

The couple walked to their room and got into bed.

"So you and Amethyst sorted everything out?" asked Derpy as she lay back in bed

"Yep, now we're one big happy family" said the Doctor as he turned to look into his wife's eyes "You're the most beautiful mare in Equestria, you know that?"

Derpy giggled before giving her husband a long kiss "Happy Hearth's Warming Mr Doctor Hooves"

"Happy Hearth's Warming Mrs Derpy Hooves" said the Doctor

Derpy and the Doctor held each other close as they looked into each other's eyes and slowly fell asleep.

The End