It was a day that began like any other.

Like every morning I wake up early and get Dinky ready for school. As I’m Ponyville’s resident mailmare, I need to be in before the sun rises to be able to receive, sort and deliver the day’s mail. I have an assistant, but she only works there part time, and usually minds the office while I’m out on delivery.

We both cleaned up and I helped Dinky comb her mane. She’s getting to an age where she’s getting an independent streak. It makes me kind of sad in a way, but I know eventually she won’t be my little pony anymore. She’ll be a full grown mare out on her own like her sister. That empty room still saddens me sometimes just a little.

We walk down to the kitchen and get ready for breakfast.

“What would you like for breakfast this morning?” I ask her as she yawns a bit, knocking the sleep from her eyes.

“Muffins!” her favorite food. My little filly does love her muffins. Amethyst liked them okay, but I think we all liked them better because my girls and I would make them together. They bring back fond memories for us all.

“Why don’t you get the mix and the big bowl and I’ll get the eggs and milk,” I say to her. She tries to lift the big bowl with her magic, but it proves a bit of a task for her. She manages it, but not without some difficulty.

“Got it!” she shouts with glee and I give her a hug.

“Now don’t push yourself too hard,” I hoof her the mix to pour into the bowl as I measure the milk. I have to close one eye to measure, but I manage it well.

“I’m almost a big pony now Mom. I can handle it,” she cracks the eggs and I mix things together.

“Well, my almost big pony, why don’t you pour the batter into the tin and I will get the oven ready.” I let her pour the batter as I set the temperature in the oven.

“Here you go,” she gives me the tin and I place it in the oven.

As we wait, we go over her spelling words. She’s quite the clever one. Her father loves teaching her about this and that. It’s almost magical to watch those two interact. He’s out on a business trip at the moment, but a piece of him is always with me in that little scrunched face she gets when she’s thinking hard about something. It’s quite adorable.

We eat breakfast and grab our things. Dinky follows me to work and hangs out in the customer waiting area of the building as I receive the overnight mail and sort it into the stacks for delivery. Ponyville isn’t a big town, so the mail load is light enough that I can usually fit it all in one set of saddlebags. She usually has a book to read while we wait or sometimes I give her a little bubble wrap to pop as she watches me sort or looks out at the shop owners opening for the day.

Leaving the office, we stroll down to the school. I love that my job lets me walk her to school every morning on the way out to Sweet Apple Acres. Not a lot of ponies know this, but the Apple family donated the schoolhouse grounds to the town.

At any rate, as we made our way down to the school house she nudged me slightly.

“Mom”

“Yes?” we stopped before the river.

“Can I… walk by myself from here to school?” she seemed slightly embarrassed. “It isn’t like I don’t love you, but all the other fillies are walking themselves to school and I don’t want to be left behind and get called a baby,” she scratched the ground with her hoof.

“Well…,” I raised my hoof to my chin, “I don’t suppose that it would do any harm for you to walk on your own from the bridge…”

Her smile tripled in size.

“You’re growing up so fast… I’ll blink again and you’ll be off on your own…” I tousled her mane and brought her in for a hug.

“Mom… don’t blink,” she said so plainly that it both warmed my heart and chilled my spine.

“Mom?” she looked at me curiously.

“Oh… it’s nothing sweetie,” I kissed her forehead and she started to trot off.

“Oh, and don’t listen to those mean ponies. They don’t know what they’re talking about.” I yelled to her.

“I won’t!” she gleefully bucked up her legs and chased down some friends of hers. One of them was a little white coated unicorn she has playdates with every so often. Her parents are very nice and have tutored Dinky a bit with magic. Her father and I can only do so much with no magic of our own.

With that, I set off to deliver the mail, securely tugging my cap down. Taking flight, I noticed how beautiful the weather was. A perfect day to soar over the acres. The smell of apple pie lingered through the air as I landed.

“Hey Derpy,” an orange coated earth pony called to me.

“Hi Applejack, I’ve got a letter from Manehatten for little Apple Bloom.” I gave it to her.

“She’s going to be pleased as punch about this when she gets home. She and her cousin just became pen pals and this is her first letter from Babs,”she smiled.

“Always glad to be the bearer of good news. I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got more deliveries to make,” I said with a smile.

“See ya later” she walked inside to place the letter safely away.

Off I flew and landed at my next destination. I usually prefer to deliver packages first because it means I have less to carry weight wise. Knocking at the door, a flustered white unicorn burst forth and seized me by the shoulders.

“THANK GOODNESS,” she hugged me with some force.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I opened my bag and withdrew a package.

“Yes, I’m just in dire need of my package. It contains the fabric I need for a short order dress and you couldn’t have come at a better time.” she seized it with her magic and disappeared back inside.

Sometimes you arrive just in time. Sometimes they wish you had never come. I adjusted my uniform and moved onto my next stop.

I approached the house as usual, but something told me that this express letter somebody wished had been put on normal post. As I neared the mailbox, I saw two ghastly eyes peer over tear stained cheeks from a doorway cracked open just enough for that purpose. It was a dagger I was putting in her mailbox, not a letter. It would find its target in due time. All I can do for them is tip my cap and move along.

With a heavy heart I decided to check in on my assistant at the office before I made my way to the other side of town for deliveries.

“How’s it going Penny?” I ask as there don’t seem to be any customers at the moment. A copper coated Pegasus with a pitch black mane peeks up from what doodle she’s working on. Her full name is Penny Black and she aspires to be a stamp artist. Her drawings are quite good, but she hasn’t quite got her hoof in the door with the powers that be. She did win second place in a contest last year, so she might be on her way sooner than I think.

“Oh, the usual,” she held up the crate we use to collect mail as it comes in. It seems about normal.

“How’s the art coming?” I asked, leaning on the counter.

“I’ve got a new idea, but I haven’t quite figured out all the details yet. I’m thinking something about small town family life in Equestria,” she showed me the stamp design border she came up with.

“I’ve got the series borders figured out, but now I just need to find some family activities to work with. Luckily, this job lets me pony watch all day…. Speaking of which, have you seen Amethyst’s coltfriend today? He seemed really agitated and kept mumbling to himself about something or other and pacing back and forth.” she imitated him a little.

“No, I haven’t. I hope everything is okay. Time has really taken a shine to him and Amethyst seems to be head over hooves with him.” a tinge of concern crossed my brow.

“Oh, I’m sure they’re fine. I’ve never seen Altair as happy as he is around her. Amethyst hasn’t mentioned anything to me about them having any problems.” Penny waved her hoof to dismiss the idea.

“Well, I might pop by and see if I can figure it out. I know it’s a bit nosy, but I can’t help it.” I adjusted my bags to finish my deliveries.

“Well, that is what moms do,” she laughed and I left for deliveries.

I clipped along to deliver the last stack of letters. I had just a few left and I spotted Altair talking with some friends at an outdoor café. I ducked around a corner and peeked out.

“Come on, please,” he pleaded with his hooves.

“You know it would put ideas in my marefriend’s head,” a blue unicorn dismissed him.

“How am I supposed to do it then? She’s the only one who works there. She’d see right through any disguise or pretense I put up.” He rubbed his mane into a frenzy.

“Tough to be you,” a cream colored earth pony laughed.

“Not… Helping…” he almost growled.

“Why don’t you travel to the next town over?” a purple unicorn sipped a soda.

“Then, I’d be buying from the competition. That wouldn’t sit right with her either. I’d have to go all the way to Canterlot to buy from the main branch and the Mr. Hay has been calling her up randomly for training lately with her taking over the store.” he bit viciously into his lunch.

“I couldn’t stand it any longer,” I giggled and stood out from behind the wall.

“Miss… Misses Hooves,” he stood in shock.

“How much did you hear?” he nearly knocked over his drink.

“Enough…” I smiled a bit mischievously.

“I...I..” he fumbled with his words nervously.

“It’s alright. I’m happy for you two and I know Time will be happy too.” I assuaged his fear.

“Phew,” he wiped his forehead, “but you understand the problem don’t you? How can I go buy a ring when she’s the only one running a shop in town,” he asked, calming down a bit.

“Hmm, I’ve got an idea,” I rubbed my chin with a hoof.

“Come by tonight for dinner and bring your bits. Time should be home and I think he may just be able to help you with your little problem,” I thought myself clever and smirked just a bit.

“Little problem?” he seemed to be confused and dismayed by my relaxed attitude.

“Trust me,” I patted him on the shoulder and finished my deliveries.

My stomach started to growl, so I went back to the house for lunch. It wasn’t far from the café and I felt like some leftovers from last night. The beauty of being a small town mailmare is that my job finishes up in time for me to have most of the afternoon off. Penny would sort the afternoon mail and close up shop for the day. I hung up my uniform and settled in for a nap before I left to pick up Dinky from school. I had just snuggled onto the couch when I heard that old familiar sound filter down from the attic.

“Hello dear,” I casually called from the couch, watching his coat flutter a bit as he descended.

“Hello love,” he said followed by a kiss as passionate as a sailor long at sea. His hoof drifted down my mane.

“Not yet dear. I have to go pick up Dinky soon,” I smiled and pecked his cheek.

“Isn’t that just the way,” he laughed.

“How was your trip?” I started to stand up.

“Oh, usual stuff. You know, saving the universe and all that. Met Starswirl,” he hung his coat and inspected himself in the mirror.

“Oh, how was he?” I asked as I straightened his tie a bit.

“Old codger, he was mean as badger on Tuesday,” he quipped.

“Why Tuesday?” I asked as I gazed at one of my favorite faces in the universe.

“Well, any day will do for a badger to be grumpy. Tuesday’s as good as any.” he laughed.

“I suppose,” I giggled.

“Did you know why Starswirl’s hat had bells on it?” he dug inside his coat pocket.

“I’m not sure anyone really knows. Even historians don’t know some things. The royal sisters never say much about him.” I peered at his moving hoof.

“It’s because I stole his hat,” he produced a magician’s hat.

“That may explain the grumpiness…” I laughed a bit.

“He was grumpy before that. I simply explained to him that I needed to prevent a paradox by a couple of rogue time travelers and that he needed to come with me. He called me crazy, so I stole his hat and ran off dragging him along. Ended up working, but he sure wasn’t happy about it,” he tossed the hat upon his head.

“I wear magician hats now, magician hats are cool,” he said dryly

“Not this again…” I tapped it off his head and ran for it.

He managed to catch up to me and pounce.

I looked up at him with a smile. Our eyes locked as I looked up at him over me. Well, one of them did and the other caught a glimpse of the clock.

“I hate to break up our little fun here, but Dinky is about to get out and I need to rush over to pick her up as it is. Rain check?” I got to my feet and nuzzled my beloved time pony.

“Rain check.” he seemed so happy.

I stepped outside and took off with a mighty flap.

Landing, I noticed Cookie Crumbles and Sweetie Belle standing around with Dinky.

“Oh, here she is,” Cookie said as they gave me a little extra space to land.

“Mom, can I have a sleepover at Sweetie Belle’s house?” Dinky asked.

“I don’t have a problem with it, but your father just got home from his trip and he probably wants to see his little muffin for a bit. After that, it’s up to Sweetie Belle’s mother,” I said as I mussed her little mane lovingly.

“Dad’s home?” she seemed to really perk up, slightly embarrassed at the little muffin comment.

“Yes, not too long ago,” I pointed back at the house.

“What do you think?” I turned toward the pair of white unicorns.

“It’s just great with me,” Cookie said, followed by a whispered, “She’s so calm compared to her other friends don’t cha know.”

“Well, then I guess it’s settled unless your father has plans. We’ll take you home and get you packed. You can hang out with your dad for a bit and then you can head over there.” With that you’d think she just won the lottery. She hugged me and dragged me along by the wing.

“We’ll see you later,” I waved.

“Oh, don’t worry about feeding her. We’re having little pizzas and Rarity had to cancel on us. Something about a big opportunity for her boutique.” She waved and Sweetie seemed rather pleased with the whole situation.

“I appreciate it,” I waved again.

“Hey Mom?” she looked up at me.

“What is it?”

“Race you!?” she got in a runner’s stance.

“You’re on!” I looked around. The streets were pretty empty.

We ran like our tails were on fire to the house. I went easy on her. Her legs aren’t quite as long as mine yet, but she’s still pretty quick. I arranged our little tie and the Doctor met us at the front porch. Our little filly leapt into his hooves.

“How was my little muffin while I was away?” he stroked her little mane.

A thought pierced my heart. How much longer will I get to see such beautiful things? How many more times will it be before she floats off on her own? I’m going to miss these halcyon days. She’s growing so much now…

“Mom?” she calls to me.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” I hugged them both.

“Almost forgot, I’ve got a little present for you Dinky,” he withdrew the hat from earlier from behind him and plopped it on her head. It slipped a tad, but she propped it on her horn

“Thanks Dad! I can’t wait to show Sweetie Belle tonight,” she hugged him, causing her to readjust her new hat.

“Tonight?” he asked and looked at me.

“She wanted to sleep over and Cookie said yes. Unless you have plans, I was thinking she could spend some time with you and then head over there.” I sat next to him.

“I don’t suppose I do,” he scratched his chin.

“Besides, you could redeem that rain check.” I whispered in his ear.

“Uh…” his face got a little red.

“Dad?” she looked up at him.

“Nothing…” he readjusted his tie needlessly.

“You two are acting awful weird…” her eyes peered at us.

“It’s nothing dear. Oh, but I also need to talk with you about Altair.”

“What about the young lad? Is he alright?”

“Oh, he’s fine. First,” I looked over toward my youngest, “Dinky what we’re about to talk about you must not breathe a word to your sister about. Understand?” I put on a stern face.

“Absolutely!” she zipped her lip and mimed hitting herself in the eye with a cupcake.

“He wants to go shopping for a certain something, so I invited him to dinner and I was hoping you could help him.” I tried to be as indirect as possible even with Dinky’s promise.

“Buy what?” he seemed confused.

“A ring,” I whispered in his ear

“Ohhhh. Yeah, that might be difficult around here finding that.” He contorted his face a bit curiously.

“Well, I suppose that wouldn’t be too much trouble,” he laughed.

“Good,” I pecked him on the cheek.

“Why did I have to promise? I didn’t even hear anything good. Why does he need jewelry…” Dinky huffed, but realized what was going on. Her ears are sharper than I thought.

“You and your sister are very bright and with even a word out of place she might figure out what’s going on and ruin the surprise. We wouldn’t want that would we?”

“Nope!” she tapped her little hooves on the ground in anticipation.

“That’s alright. It won’t be long anyway, dear one.”

After a time, Dinky scooted on down to her sleepover and after a bit of research the Doctor and I settled into the kitchen as we worked on dinner together. He’s actually quite the cook, but he does have a thing about soufflés that I can’t for the life of me figure out. Perhaps an old flame or something that reminds him of home. Dinner was almost set to cook when I heard a knock at the back door.

“I’ll get it,” he said with a smile, clipping the last bits of celery into the pot.

“Hello Altair. Come on in. How’ve you been?” he waved the young stallion in.

“Just fine, sir” he sheepishly crept in, a bit wary of a dinner alone with his future in-laws.

The simmering pot of vegetables permeated the room with the scent of hearth and home. As he walked in, his eyes scanned the room, fleeting from one happy family memory picture to another in humble wooden frames dangling from the creamy yellow wallpaper. His steps were light as if entering a holy place that was defiled by his very presence despite the warm smiles of the new mother and father he would soon gain.

“Now that won’t do. Relax and have a seat.” My brown coated stallion motioned towards the seat across from his usual spot.

“Yes sir,” he found a seat, but shifted a little.

“We’re not going to bite.” I said as I set aside the apron I had been wearing while finishing the preparations and joined them at the table.

“Don’t fret, you have our blessing, so long as you promise me one thing.” The Doctor gained a more serious air as he is want to do when the situation warrants.

“What’s that?” the young pony looked a bit frightened.

“Never be cruel or cowardly. Never give up and never give in.”

“I will,” he matched his seriousness.

“That’s my colt! Right then, when are you going to ask her?” he stood up and slapped him on the back, circling the table to do so.

“Well, that’s the thing. I’m not sure how I could buy her engagement ring without her figuring it out. I really want to surprise her.” He scratched at his chin.

“Oh yes, my lovely wife told me. It’s a pretty trivial matter. I looked into it earlier. We’ll handle it after supper, which should be finished right… about… now.” At the moment the last word sprung from his lips the buzzer rang out indicating the same.

“You are really a master of time. You didn’t even look at it the whole time we were talking. No wonder your mark is an hourglass.”

“Oh, I would never call myself a master,” to which I softly giggled.

“Altair, would you be a dear and put out one of the hot pads. They’re in the top drawer over there.” I walked over and conveyed the soup towards the table.

“Yes, Mrs. Hooves,” he did as instructed.

“Now now, you don’t have to be so formal. You can just call me ‘Mom’ now,” I placed it down and began ladling.

“Yes…Mom,” he was a little embarrassed.

Dinner went rather smoothly and afterward we sat well stuffed with a good meal.

“So… You said it would be a trivial matter?”

“Oh, yes. Come along,” the Doctor excitedly trotted from the table.

“Uh… okay,” the young stallion joined him.

I followed quickly after as my husband seemed a bit giddy. I reached the attic to that familiar blue box shortly after them.

“I’m… confused” the unicorn cocked his head to the side.

“Ah, understandable,” the Doctor clicked his hoof on the floor with a mischievous grin. The doors flew open and the wonders within glimmered.

“But... how…” dumbfounded he could only be mesmerized by it.

“Yes yes, it’s bigger on the inside. Allons-y. Let’s go!” he dashed in.

“Come along. You’ll catch flies that way.” I dashed by him into the TARDIS, to which he came to his senses and followed us in.

Whizzing around the control panel, the Doctor flipped dials and raised switches.

“What’s he doing?” Altair leaned over to ask me.

“He’s piloting this ship. She’s called the TARDIS. Essentially, she can take us to anywhere or anywhen, though not always perfectly reliably…”

“Yeah, but we always end up somewhere interesting…” he grinned as a little horn sounded.

“Well, his idea of fun is being chased at full gallop by a monster that’s about to engulf half of Equestria…”

“Don’t act so high and mighty. You love our adventures as much as I do. Frankly, Amethyst might not have been born if we hadn’t run into those…” He was muffled by my hoof.

“I think you’ve proven your point dear…” I blushed as red as a tomato.

“So how did you make this? I’ve never seen anything like it.” He wandered around the circular control panels.

“Don’t touch that. Besides, she wasn’t made as much as she was grown.” He flipped a last switch and relaxed a bit as the TARDIS moved through time, making that familiar grinding whine.

“Grown… Are… are you two aliens? My girlfriend is an alien?!” he started to gasp a bit.

“Well, half alien I suppose. Her mother is a genuine home grown pegasus.” To which I flapped my wings in demonstration.

“As for me… Well, I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old, and I'm about to be your father-in-law… Are you alright?” he began with gusto, but ended in concern.

“I… I think so.”

“Alright then. Off we go.” The Doctor pushed open the doors and the glaring sun of a midsummer Canterlot day made us all squint.

As we walked out, the scents and sounds of a bustling market filled the air. Judging by the fashion and the décor we must have been fifty years in the past.

“Right this way,” the Doctor slipped through the crowd, his coat flapping in the breeze.

It wasn’t long before we reached a jeweler who couldn’t be very long out of training. His fresh face beamed with optimism.

“Here’s the one I was talking to you about,” The Doctor stopped abruptly.

“Well, what brings you to my humble stand? A ring for your girlfriend?” he stood up and winked slyly.

“Oh no, we’re already married, but our young friend here has saved up to buy an engagement ring,” he talked with a light hearted laugh in his voice.

“Well, you’re in luck. This is my finest work yet.” He plucked a very beautiful and ornate ring made in an antique style from a box.

“That’s…” our “friend” was a bit shocked at what he saw.

“Yes, it’s very nice,” the Doctor winked.

“How much sir?” he withdrew the bits from his bag.

“Two-hundred bits. I won’t take a bit less,” he tapped his hoof on the table with a bit of force.

“Sure!” The young fiancé-to-be gladly doled out the bits.

“Uh… Okay,” the jeweler scratched his head, accepted the payment and delivered the ring.

“Thank you,” the young stallion said as the jeweler rattled from the force of his hoofshake.

“Oh by the way, I think you ought to know that this sale should let me finally open my own full-fledged store. Send your friends my way if you get a chance!” he waved.

“What’s the name going to be?”

“Hay Jewelers”

“I’ll have to remember that!”

“Inflation sure is a thing, isn’t it?” the Doctor nudged him a bit.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to show her” the stallion tucked it away.

We headed home and the TARDIS was cooperative again. We landed just when we needed to. I’m starting to think that she has a bit of a romantic side to her.

Altair left soon after to go home. As we waved goodbye that husband of mine leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“Are you ready to be Granny Hooves?” the realization dawned on me.

“If you’re ready to be Grampa Turner,” I put my hoof on his chest and give him a peck.

“I’m always the Doctor… always the Doctor…” he stuttered a bit.

“Well, shall we play then?” I tickled his chin with my wing and gave him a smirk. It drives him crazy.

“I’m no pony’s grampa, yet,” he chased after me as I raced up to our favorite spot, that magical blue box that brought us together so many years ago…

Author's Note

Well, so it begins. I also have stabismus, though my eyes aren't nearly as exaggerated as Derpy's. I actually use the technique of closing one eye to help me measure. I hope you enjoyed.