Chapter 1: A Fight Occurred
Derpy came home early from work that day. She was also taking the day off tomorrow, for that day would be Dinky's birthday. Derpy couldn't believe her little muffin was soon going to be eight years old. It had been so long. The time had sped by. Derpy had a present for her muffin for tomorrow, which was hidden in her closet. If Dinky were to find out where it was, she would puppy eye Derpy util the latter gave in, and the present needed to be saved for tomorrow. After all, Dinky needed something to look forward to, and Derpy always wanted her to enjoy her birthday as much as possible.
A knock at the front door signaled for Derpy to answer, revealing and excited lavender-colored foal on the front porch.
"Mommy!" Dinky cried happily as she dove into Derpy's forelegs.
Derpy gave her daughter a bear hug before leading her inside and helping her with her saddlebags.
"How was school today?" Derpy asked as she placed the bags near the sofa.
Dinky didn't respond right away and the smile on her face faded. Derpy took concerning notice.
"It didn't exactly involve me, but a fight occurred during recess," Dinky said, a bit uneasy. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon started calling Berry Pinch and Noi hurtful names. I could tell Noi was was about to cry. Berry Pinch shoved Diamond Tiara to the ground, though, and that's when things got violent."
Derpy's ears flattened against her gray fur. She had received notes from Cheerilee in the past talking about Dinky and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon getting into arguments. One rich filly would insult Dinky or her and that brewed up a heated batch of painful words thrown back and forth. Luckily, Dinky moved past that and left it completely behind her. She regretted putting herself in the wrong along with the two wealthy bullies. Dinky knew that two wrongs didn't make a right.
"Derpy eyed her daughter with worry. "Muffin, did you tell Cheerilee?"
The shameful look on the little unicorn's face told Derpy a clear "no".
"Dinky, why didn't you alert your teacher of the situation?"
Dinky sniffled. She hated letting her mother down. Out of all accidents she caused, the one that made her feel the most horrible was disappointing her only parent.
"I-I was so drawn into what was going on. I guess it b-because stuff like this doesn't happen at school m-much," she sniveled.
Then, with glassy eyes, Dinky looked up and met Derpy's golden crossed eyes.
"Mommy, please don't hate me."
Such words escaping Dinky's mouth left Derpy aghast.
"Dinky, sometimes you make a mistake. I would never hate you for any reason!" she told Dinky with pure shock leeching on her words.
Dinky didn't answer verbally, but a relieved grin spread across her muzzle.
"Well, it's all over now. What do you say you help me bake some strawberry muffins?" Derpy offered, glad to see the filly cheer up again.
"Sure thing, Mom," Dinky agreed.
Chapter 2: From Tease to Tears
Diamond Tiara had been suspended from school for the rest of the week following her fight with Berry Pinch. Silver Spoon had gotten suspended for only two days due to her being directly involved with the tussle. Luckily for Noi she received no punishment, but Berry Pinch got the same consequence as Diamond Tiara. Dinky came to school the following day seeing no sign of all three fillies. Strangely, Noi was also absent. Dinky figured she had simply gotten ill and couldn't attend today. Dinky sat at her assigned seat. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were at Applebloom's desk with a large map laid out and chattering excitedly.
"I don't know, Applebloom. We'd need more fillies and colts joining us for a Cutie Mark Crusaders' camping trip," Scootaloo pointed out.
"I'm with Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle agreed as she levitated a red crayon in a pale-green aura. "Camping is just not fun with only three ponies."
"Alright, alright. Don't git yer manes in a knot," Applebloom said before taking a green crayon in her mouth and roughly sketching out the map's doodles.
Dinky wondered when the best time to ask the three fillies if she could join their club would come. Dinky had always been a bit shy, and these three foals were very outgoing and a little bit crazy from time to time. Although, Sweetie Belle seemed more focus and relaxed. She seemed more mature than Applebloom who was still worried sick about her cutie mark and Scootaloo who wondered if she would ever be able to fly. Dinky wasn't exactly sure, though; she had not properly communicated with the dubbed "Cutie Mark Crusaders" as of now. Hopefully, that would change soon.
Cheerilee trotted inside the schoolhouse. The teacher saw the CMCs with their plans and chuckled.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, please put your things away," Cheerilee ordered.
The three fillies jumped and all giggled nervously, though they could never be mad at Cheerilee. Sweetie Belle levitated the blueprint and crayons away while her friends took their seats. Dinky had already been at her desk curiously watching the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Cheerilee took attendance. She already knew Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Berry Pinch would be absent for a little while. The only pony unexpectedly absent was Noi.
"Oh dear. Has anypony heard from Noi?" Cheerilee asked the class.
There were murmurs of "no" and "sorry, no" in multiple voices. Dinky said nothing. Noi was one of her closest friends. She worried about her. Dinky knew not what to say. Her teacher began a lesson as normal. Sweetie Belle levitated a quill above and to her paper as she listened and wrote. She had gotten better control over her magic. Dinky rolled her eyes up but could not see her own horn above her blonde mane. Dinky had never thought about needing to use any magic, but now she wonder if she was falling behind. If she was, it would make sense, since her mother had fallen behind back when she was a filly. Perhaps Derpy's own disabilities passed down to Sparkler before Dinky was born. Dinky wanted to ask her older sister is she had difficulty with magic.
Dinky always thought she wasn't a normal filly. Such a thought was what kept her going all the time. She never liked the idea of her or her mother being normal. Dinky wondered why some ponies believed that being normal was the best anypony could be. Why did they think that? Did they want everypony in this world to be exactly the same? This question seemed to have only one answer: yes. Disappointed with this, Dinky trotted to school by herself. Her mother had been very busy with collecting and delivering mail lately, so Dinky had to walk herself to school. The filly didn't mind; it gave her the opportunity to feel more adult. Derpy didn't baby her in public, it was just that Dinky enjoyed moments by herself. Said moments, though, she didn't find as enjoyable as spending time with Derpy, her cherished and beloved mother.
Dinky had left for school a little earlier today since Derpy couldn't fly her there. The unicorn wished to fly, but since she had her magic with her, she didn't mind, even though it wasn't very skilled magic. Dinky looked all around her, taking in Ponyville's pretty environment. She levitated an apple off a tree and ate it, feeling like she had not had enough breakfast this morning. Dinky never liked to overeat, so one apple was plenty to keep her stomach calm until lunch.
Dinky made it to school just in time to hear its bell ring, signaling the start of a new day. Any latecomers hurried to find their desks and sat down in heavy pants. Dinky couldn't help but chuckle because of this. She was never tardy. She was not going to brag, though, because she was a good filly. Dinky slipped off her saddlebags and set them down next to her chair. In the desk in front of her, Applebloom turned around and waved. Dinky waved back. She wondered if she should join the club Applebloom and her two best friends had.
Cheerilee entered the classroom from the office. Greeting everypony, she began a lesson on the history of the Crystal Empire. Dinky took notes and listened intently, like any good student would. Next to her, Sweetie Belle did the same thing. To Dinky's surprise, Sweetie Belle was using her magic to write down her notes. Dinky smiled, deciding to congratulate Sweetie Belle during lunch.
Dinky faced the front of the classroom. Today was going to be a great day.
